Army to enlist 1k IPs from Mindanao

From the Philippine News Agency (Jul 15): Army to enlist 1k IPs from Mindanao

The Philippine Army is enlisting 1,000 indigenous people’s (IP) from all over Mindanao into the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), a military official said Saturday.

The enlistment of IPs was based on the orders signed by Lt. Gen. Glorioso Miranda, the Philippine Army chief.

Lt. Col. Jo-ar Herrera, 1st Infantry Division spokesperson, said that 350 of the 1,000 IPs will be hired in the areas covered by the command.

The area of jurisdiction of the 1st Infantry Division covers the provinces of Lanao del Sur, Lanao del Norte, Misamis Occidental, Zamboanga del Sur, Zamboanga del Norte, Zamboanga Sibugay, Basilan and Sulu.

Herrera said the objective in enlisting IPs is geared towards the complete elimination of the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army-National Democratic Front (CPP-NPA-NDF) and other threat groups in the remote areas.

He said the basic requirements to enlist into the Philippine Army are as follows: 18 to 35 years old; five feet and above in height; Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA)-authenticated birth certificate with Official Receipt (OR); parents’ marriage contract with OR; Form 137, Transcript of Records, Diploma with dry seal (high school and college); two copies of 2×2 pictures with name tag; valid identification cards; and, must attain an AFP Service Aptitude Test (AFPSAT) score of at least 45.

He said the applicants must also have a certificate coming from the National Commission on Indigenous People (NCIP) for admission.

He said interested and qualified applicants can register at the following locations: Gate 2, 1st Infantry Division headquarters at Camp Major Cesar Sang-an in Upper Pulacan, Labangan, Zamboanga del Sur; and, 102nd Infantry Brigade headquarters in Barangay Sanito, Ipil, Zamboanga Sibugay.

http://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1001021