The National Police Commission (Napolcom) has announced the holding of a Special Qualifying Eligibility Examination (NSQEE) given exclusively to members of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) and Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) in Lamitan, Basilan, on May 29, 2022.
The Napolcom had earlier administered the NSQEE in Cotabato City and Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM).
The Napolcom stressed that members of the MILF and MNLF who aspire to join the police service shall need to submit a certification issued by the Chairman of the MILF or MNLF validated by the Ad Hoc Office on Bangsamoro Policing, as prescribed under Executive Order No. 0003, Series of 2022, by the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao Office of the Chief Minister entitled “An Order Creating and Organizing an Ad Hoc Office on Bangsamoro Policing under the Office of the Chief Minister, Defining its Functions, and for Other Purposes” dated March 7, 2022.
The Ad Hoc Office on Bangsamoro Policing shall provide general administrative support in the application process set forth by the Napolcom and shall be responsible for the initial screening of applications for the NSQEE. It shall coordinate with relevant National Government and Bangsamoro Government agencies in the processing of paper qualification requirements of applicants; shall authenticate Certificates of Membership issued by the authorized signatories of the MILF and MNLF; and shall endorse and submit applications for the NSQEE to the Napolcom. The Ad Hoc Office on Bangsamoro Policing shall also validate and verify information of applicants, as may be requested by Napolcom; and shall submit updates, reports and recommendations to the Chief Minister and the BG-Intergovernmental Relations Body (IGRB).
To facilitate the entry into the Philippine National Police (PNP) of MILF and MNLF members, the Napolcom was mandated to grant age, height and educational waivers, for a period of five years from the ratification of Republic Act No. 11504, otherwise known as the “Organic Law for the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao.” Eligibility, however, as one of the minimum qualification standards for appointment in the PNP, is not covered by a waiver provision as provided for under paragraph 3, Section 2, Article XI of RA 11504. Hence, the need to administer the NSQEE.
Passers of the NSQEE would be conferred by the Napolcom with eligibility which can be used solely as appropriate eligibility for the rank of Patrolman/Patrolwoman in a temporary appointment. Permanent appointment may only be given upon satisfaction of the prescribed educational requirement of baccalaureate degree, which they have to obtain within 15 years upon entry to the PNP, as prescribed under Section 14 of RA 8551, on the general qualification for appointment into the PNP. The NSQEE, also, shall not automatically entitle the holder to an appointment in the PNP as further prescribed in Napolcom Resolution No. 2022-0081 entitled “Prescribing Napolcom Special Qualifying Eligibility as Appropriate Eligibility for Temporary Appointment to the Rank of Patrolman/Patrolwoman in the Philippine National Police for Members of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front and Moro National Liberation Front.”