Albayalde open to accept ex-MILF members in police force

The Philippine National Police (PNP) is open to accepting former Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) as recruits for as long as they are qualified, its chief, Police General Oscar Albayalde said on Monday.

"Bukas kami sa mga ex-MILF basta sila ay qualified. They have to meet the qualification standards natin set by law," Albayalde said at a press briefing in Camp Crame.

Albayalde said the former MILF members should not have warrants of arrest or pending cases in order to be accepted as PNP recruits.

"Lahat ng may standing warrants of arrest, they need to face the charges against them. We do not stop sa pag-aresto sa mga taong may warrant of arrest... they need to face their charges," Albayalde said.

"Pag disqualifed sila, we cannot accept. Parang normal recruitment, kung talagang qualified ka, whether you are with the MILF, provided wala kang criminal case, pending na kaso... then pasok ka sa Philippine National Police," he added.

Albayalde's remark came days before the public launch of the decommissioning process for the MILF combatants and their weapons which will take place on September 7 in Sultan Kudarat, Maguindanao.

The said event will be graced by President Rodrigo Duterte.

According to the Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process, around 12,000 former MILF combatants will undergo decommissioning under the Normalization Track of the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro. —LDF, GMA News