PRESIDENT Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Monday urged former rebels-turned-policemen to be good role models to other Filipinos and do their part in bringing lasting peace to Mindanao.

The President made the call during the graduation ceremony of the Bangsamoro Police Basic Recruit Course (BPBRC) Batch 2023-01 Classes Alpha-Bravo in Parang, Maguindanao del Norte.

He noted that from being former combatants of the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) and Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) fighting government forces, they are now on the other side of the fence and helping end the armed conflict in Mindanao.

They are the first batch of former Moro combatants to have completed the police recruitment course.

"Tapang at determinasyon ang siyang nagtulak sa inyo upang harapin ang linggo-linggong pagsasanay. Ngayon na magsisimula na, na magsuot ng uniporme at magsilbi sa bayan, tiyak na dodoble ang pagsubok sa mga katangian ninyo (Bravery and determination pushed you to face the training week by week. Now you have started to wear that uniform and serve the country. Surely, challenges to your qualities would be doubled," Marcos said.

The President also exhorted the new police graduates to strive to improve their capabilities to further be of effective service to the people.

The newest batch, which calls itself "Bakas-Lipi," has 52 members from the MILF and 50 from the MNLF, of which eight are women.

To facilitate the recruitment of entry of MNLF and MILF members into the police force of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, the usual requirements for age, height and educational attainment have been waived.

The National Police Commission has decreed that the recruits from the MNLF and MILF will be temporarily appointed patrolmen and patrolwomen.

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