(Eagle News) – President Rodrigo Duterte urged Filipinos from Mindanao, and more members of other ethnoliguistic groups and tribes to join the Philippine Military Academy and the Philippine National Police Academy, saying that the country needs more men who would serve and protect the country.
Speaking during the graduation rites of the PNPA on Wednesday, March 21, the President reminded everybody that the country needs more men coming from the different provinces, and making particular reference to the Moros of Mindanao.
“Ngayon, I’d like also to remind everybody that we are a one nation. That not all the Moro of Mindanao are our enemies. So maybe next time there should be a percentage of the Moro people joining PMA or the PNPA. We need them. As a matter of fact, kailangan talaga natin sila,”
“And I have seen with my own eyes the experience in the so many battles including Marawi. Many of the Moro people who were soldiers were there and many died for our country,” he said.
Duterte said that the country needs police officers and soldiers trained to work in Mindanao.
“So we cannot govern this country by just selecting from the other provinces without looking towards Mindanao. And we need officers trained and we need to work with them in Mindanao,” he said.
“At isali naman natin sila. Not only the Moro. But as a matter of fact, it should be divided among the tribes, the Ilocano, the Bisaya. That ought to be the Philippine National Police,” he said.
The 72-year old Philippine leader also hoped that he would see more police officers who would be coming from different parts of the country, and that he would try to have the money to enlist them.
“I hope by the next batch or the next — the one coming up for this generation, I will have the money to give you to enlist more police officers,” he said.
The PNPA provides preparatory education and training for future commissioned officers of the three uniformed services of the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG).
It conducts the Bachelor of Science in Public Safety cadetship program, a four-year residential scholarship.
Cadet Fritz John Napalinga Vallador, who hails from Kabankalan City, Negros Occidental, topped the Maragtas Class of 2018.
He received the Presidential Kampilan Award and Chief PNP Kampilan Award. He was also given a house and lot unit in Bacolod City and a pistol.
The top 10 cadets joining the Philippine National Police (PNP) each received a 9-millimeter Jericho pistol during the ceremony, presented by PNP Chief Director General Roland dela Rosa.
Of the 106 members of the graduating class, 76 would join the PNP; 17, Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP); and 13, Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP).
(with a Malacanang news release)
