MILF/MNLF applicants take exams for entry in Philippine National Police

From MindaNews (May 29, 2022): MILF/MNLF applicants take exams for entry in Philippine National Police (By FERDINANDH B. CABRERA)

Hundreds of applicants for police from among male and female members of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front and Moro National Liberation Front on Sunday took the National Police Commission’s Special Qualifying Eligibility Examination (NSQEE) for entry into the Philippine National Police (PNP).

Passers of the NSQEE will be conferred by the NAPOLCOM with eligibility for temporary appointment as patrolman or patrolwoman in the PNP. Permanent appointment can be given upon satisfaction of the prescribed educational requirement of baccalaureate degree which they have to obtain within fifteen (15) years upon entry to the PNP, as prescribed under Section 14 of RA 8551, on the general qualification for appointment into the PNP.

 

Members of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front and Moro National Liberation Front queue outside the Notre Dame University in Cotabato City, venue of the Napolcom’s Special Qualifying Eligibility Examination for entry into the Philippine National Police. MIndaNews photo by FERDINANDH B. CABRERA

Section 2 of Article XI of Republic Act 11054 or the Organic Law for the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao provides that in order to facilitate entry into the Philippine National Police of the MILF and MNLF members from the BARMM, “the age, height and educational attainment requirements may be waived by the National Police Commission, subject to existing rules and regulations.”

Members of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front and Moro National Liberation Front queue outside the Notre Dame University in Cotabato City, venue of the Napolcom’s Special Qualifying Eligibility Examination for entry into the Philippine National Police. MIndaNews photo by FERDINANDH B. CABRERA

The waiver can be availed of within five years from the ratification of the Organic Law. The law was ratified in January 2019.

It also states that the requirement of educational attainment shall be complied with within 15 years from their entry, provided that their ranks and grades shall be subject to existing laws, rules and regulations governing the PNP.

The NAPOLCOM in its May 19 press release said members of the MILF and MNLF who aspire to join the police service shall submit a certification issued by the MILF or MNLF chair, validated by the Ad Hoc Office on Bangsamoro Policing as prescribed under Executive Order No. 0003 issue on March 7, 2022.

https://www.mindanews.com/top-stories/2022/05/milf-mnlf-applicants-take-exams-for-entry-in-philippine-national-police/

PAF’s unmanned aerial vehicle crashes in Bukidnon

From MindaNews (May 28, 2022): PAF’s unmanned aerial vehicle crashes in Bukidnon (By FROILAN GALLARDO)

An Israel-made unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) of the Philippine Air Force crashed near a popular mountain resort in Baungon town, Bukidnon on Saturday afternoon.

The military reported no casualties at the crash site and no major damage to any private property.

Major Francisco Garello Jr., spokesman of the 4th Infantry Division said a Special Forces team is now guarding the crash site near Ultra Winds Mountain Resort in Baungon town.

The resort is some 1.2 nautical miles east of Lumbia Airport here, the old passenger aviation airport and now the base of the PAF 15th Strike Wing and the Tactical Operations Group 10.

Baungon, Bukidnon. Map courtesy of Google Maps

PAF spokesperson Col. Menard Mariano said the Hermes 900 unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) was returning to Lumbia airport when its operators lost control of the long distance radio link to the aircraft at around 1 p.m.

He said by 2 p.m., they declared the UAV as missing.

“The operators in Lumbia computed the last radio contact with the aircraft and residents in the area confirmed the crash site,” Mariano said.

He said the operators conducted a functional check flight, allowing the UAV to ascend to 10,000 feet.

PAF acquired nine Hermes 900 UAVs from Israel’s Elbit Systems under the Horizon 2 phase of the revised Armed Forces of the Philippines program.

The Hermes 900 is a Multi-role, medium altitude long distance unmanned reconnaissance aircraft and is the most advanced UAV in the AFP.

https://www.mindanews.com/top-stories/2022/05/pafs-unmanned-aerial-vehicle-crashes-in-bukidnon/

Kampo ng BIFF, binomba

 From the Mindanao Examiner (May 29, 2022): Kampo ng BIFF, binomba (BIFF camp, bombed)

Kinumpirma ng militar na dalawang miyembro ng teroristang grupo na Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighter (BIFF) ang napatay sa bayan ng Datu Salibo sa magulang lalawigan n Maguindanao matapos na bombahin ng 6th Infantry Division ang kuta ng pro-ISIS group.

Sinabi ni Brig. Gen. Eduardo Gubat, ang acting commander ng 6th Infantry Division at Joint Task Force Central, na nasawi sa atake ng militar si Abdul Patir at Sadam Salandang at may tinatayang 17 ang sugatan, kabilang na ang kanilang lider na Abu Turaife.

Bagama’t sugatan ay Nakatakas naman ang gupo ni Turaife. Isinagawa ang pambobomba sa grupo ng BIFF kamakailan, subali’t ngayon lamang ito inilahad ng militar matapos na makumpirma ang bilang ng mga casualties sa panig ng mga terorista.

“Tiniyak naman natin na hindi malalagay sa peligro ang buhay ng mga residente dahil sa pagnanais ng ating kalaban na maglagi sila sa lugar. Siniguro naman ng ating mga kasundalohan na nasusunod parin ang karapatang pantao na pinapairal natin. Hindi lamang sa mga residente pati na sa mga nakasagupa ng ating pwersa,” ani Gubat.

May panawagan naman ang Heneral sa mga natitirang myembro ng BIFF at iba pang mga grupo na sumuko na lamang ng mapapayapa at magbagong-buhay at tutulungan umano sila ng pamahalaan.

“Those weakened BIFF-Karialan Faction members who remain entangled in their twisted violent ideology and terroristic ways must surrender now as the JTFC will always be relentless in its operations and we will hunt them down until the last terrorist element is prevented from waging violence and intimidation to our peace-loving communities in the province of Maguindanao,” wika pa ni Gubat sa mga ayaw sumuko.

http://mindanaoexaminernewspaper.blogspot.com/2022/05/kampo-ng-biff-binomba.html

PAF probes crash-landing of Hermes 900 drone

From the Philippine News Agency (May 29, 2022): PAF probes crash-landing of Hermes 900 drone (By Priam Nepomuceno)

The Philippine Air Force (PAF) said it is now conducting investigations to determine the exact cause of the crash-landing of its Hermes 900 unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) while about to land at the Lumbia Airport, Cagayan De Oro City Saturday.

PAF spokesperson Col. Maynard Mariano, in a statement forwarded to reporters Saturday night, said the UAV took off at around 9:30 a.m. to perform a functional check flight (FCF).

"Upon takeoff, the UAV proceeded to 5NM (five nautical miles) east of Lumbia and ascended to 10,000 ft. After finding the FCF procedure to be satisfactory, the pilots declared the termination of test and started to descend 5000 ft 1.5 miles east of Lumbia Airport," he added.

At around 11:46 a.m., communication with the UAV was cut.

"All emergency procedures were performed, and field service representatives were called for troubleshooting," Mariano said.

He added that the Hermes 900 UAV crash-landed in a vegetated area where it was last confirmed to have lost contact.

"No civilian casualties and damage of properties were reported. The Command will be conducting a thorough investigation to determine the cause of such incident," Mariano said.

Mariano said the UAV, which is the same size as a small trainer plane, is still recoverable.

“As of the moment, the recovery is ongoing. The aircraft suffered considerable damage but was recoverable," he added

The Hermes 900 is an Israeli medium-size, multi-payload, medium-altitude long-endurance UAV designed for tactical missions.

It is a successor to the Hermes 450 series of drones, one of the most widely used military drones in the world.

It has an endurance of over 30 hours and can fly at a maximum altitude of 30,000 feet with a primary mission of reconnaissance, surveillance, and communications relay.

In 2020, the PAF received three Hermes 900 and one Hermes 450 unmanned aerial systems as part of a contract worth approximately USD175 million.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1175364

369 new soldiers told ‘not to fail the people they must serve’

From the Philippine News Agency (May 29, 2022): 369 new soldiers told ‘not to fail the people they must serve’ (By Franck Dick Rosete)

DEFENDERS. The 4th Infantry Division of the Philippine Army welcomes the 369 new graduates of the basic military training during the closing ceremony at Camp Osito Bahian in Malaybalay City, Bukidnon on May 23, 2022. The new batch of soldiers is composed of 51 females and 318 males. (Photo courtesy of 4ID)

Be instruments of change for the betterment of the communities and never fail the people you must serve.

Maj. Gen. Wilbur Mamawag, chief of the Philippine Army’s 4th Infantry Division (4ID), thus advised the 369 new graduates of the Basic Military Training to Candidate Soldier Course Class 690, 691, and 706.

Composed of 51 females and 318 males, 172 are with “special skills”, 64 are with the Citizen Armed Force Geographical Unit, 48 belong to the Indigenous Peoples groups, and 85 are with the engineering unit.

In a statement over the weekend, Mamawag said the additional forces will secure communities in the Northern Mindanao and Caraga regions.

“All the knowledge and competencies that they have acquired in the training must be translated into effectively accomplishing all the tasks and responsibilities. They must be prepared to assume different roles to become reliable partners of the people in peace and development,” he stated.

They underwent five months of training and satisfactorily completed the mandatory requirements for basic soldiery.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1175368