Long time friend Prof Rommel Banlaoi is happy to share this!


1,000 MILF, MNLF members to join PNP organization; undergo general orientation

ByAsangan Madale

June 26, 2023

BY ASANGAN T. MADALE

1,OOO organic members of the  Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) & Moro National Liberation Front  (MNLF)  reported to the PNP-Police  Regional Office Bangsamoro Autonomous Region (PNP-PRO BAR to  attend  the general orientation  and  subsequently undergo  Body Mass Index ((BMI)  and  Physical  Agility Test (PAT) as part of the entry  screening. 

These first batch of  training  was  the result   over a year after the Philippine National Police (PNP) and Bangsamoro Government forged an agreement, an initial batch of qualified members of both the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) and Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) began their journey to the police force., Top Officials sai

In a press statement from Camp Crame grabbed from state-run Radyo Pilipinas World Services’ official Facebook page, PNP spokesperson Col. Jean Fajardo said that the PNP has started processing the list of endorsed applicants.

“The applicants would have to pass the body mass index (BMI) test, physical agility test, psychological examination, physical and dental examination,” Fajardo said, on top of the other criteria such as background investigation, among others.

In an exclusive interview with Intergovernmental Relations Body (IGRB) co-chair Mohaqher Iqbal, he confirmed that both MILF and MNLF have endresed their qualified members for the PNP integration, where he emphasized that since the screening in PNP would be rigid, there’s an obvious risk that some of the applicants would be unable to make it to the final cut.

However, he clarified that if the number of successful candidates exceeded the approved quota for this year, the excess would be given priority in the subsequent batch.

“There’s an obvious risk dito sa recruitment kaya sa parte ng MILF at MNLF, mayroong mga criteria sa mga ini-endorsong aplikante to ensure na malaki yung chance na makapasa sila,” Iqbal said.

An example of those who were given priority are those individuals who were in good physical shape and held a college degree were given priority.

After their oath-taking, the successful applicants would undergo a one-year basic recruitment basic course and a six-month field training program, and would be given a temporary appointment status.


2 PCG ships ‘pursued’ by Chinese Coast Guard

July 3, 2023 | 12:00am

Photo from the tweets of Ray Powell shows a satellite image of the position of two Philippine Coast Guard ships in a resupply mission to the Navy ship BRP Sierra Madre in the West Philippine Sea. The ships were supposedly met by ‘an armada’ of Chinese Coast Guard and militia ships.

MANILA, Philippines — China Coast Guard (CCG) vessels and militia engaged and “pursued” two Philippine ships in a resupply mission on June 30, according to a former United States Air Force official.

Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) vessels BRP Malabrigo and BRP Malapascua were escorting a small boat on a resupply mission to Philippine Navy ship BRP Sierra Madre when they reportedly encountered “an armada” of CCG militia.

“After the resupply, the two CCG ships pursued the PCG ships to the east. CCG 3103, which had just arrived from Scarborough Shoal, then returned to China’s nearby military base at Mischief Reef. CCG 4203 has resumed its patrol of Sabina Shoal,” said Raymond Powell, a fellow at the Gordian Knot Center for National Security Innovation.

In a series of tweets, Powell said the two CCG vessels and seven militia ships were “in a position to interdict” the resupply mission in Ayungin Shoal.

Another seven militia ships were patrolling 20-50 kilometers northwest of Mischief Reef, and another CCG vessel may have been near the area, according to Powell.

CCG 3103, Powell noted, had traveled 650 kilometers from Scarborough Shoal.

“Awfully long trip to help oppose two lightly armed 45-meter patrol vessels and some small boats on a supply run,” he added.

PCG spokesperson Rear Admiral Armand Balilo said he is unable to confirm if the June 30 incident occurred.

“I have no information,” he said.

Powell said China violated the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea. China is a signatory to UNCLOS.

China has been an aggressor in numerous incidents that occurred in the South China Sea, especially in recent incidents this year.

A CCG vessel reportedly pointed a military-grade laser at BRP Malapascua last Feb. 6, causing temporary blindness to the crew.

Another CCG vessel nearly collided with the Malapascua last April 23, posing a significant threat to the crew’s safety. Evelyn Macairan – The Philippine Star 

https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2023/07/03/2278249/2-pcg-ships-pursued-chinese-coast-guard