Administrative Order No. 297




MALACAÑAN PALACE MANILA BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE PHILIPPINES [ ADMINISTRATIVE ORDER NO. 297, October 15, 1996 ] PROVIDING FOR THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE PEACE AGREEMENT ON THE JOINING OF MNLF ELEMENTS WITH THE PHILIPPINE NATIONAL POLICE WHEREAS, a Final Peace Agreement (hereinafter referred to as the Agreement) between the Government of the Republic of the Philippines (GRP) and the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) was entered into on the 2nd day of September 1996 between Ambassador Manuel T. Yan, Chairman of the GRP Peace Panel, and Professor Nur Misuari, Chairman of the MNLF Peace Panel; WHEREAS, the President, on the 2nd day of October 1996 issued Executive Order No. 371 proclaiming a Special Zone of Peace and Development (ZOPAD) in the Southern Philippines and establishing therefor the Southern Philippines Council for Peace and Development (SPCPD) and the Consultative Assembly; WHEREAS, the Agreement provides that the Government shall allocate one thousand five hundred (1,500) Philippine National Police (PNP) vacancies to allow the joining the MNLF elements into the PNP and be part of the PNP Command, and another two hundred fifty (250) items for special or auxiliary services; NOW, THEREFORE, I, FIDEL V. RAMOS, President of the Republic of the Philippines, by virtue of the powers vested in me by law, do hereby order the following: Section 1. Period of Joining of MNLF Elements into the PNP. — During the transition period of three years (Phase I) of the Agreement, the PNP shall implement a particular program to allow the joining of MNLF elements, in the number as above-stated, into the PNP and be part of the PNP Command. Section 2. Process for Joining of MNLF Elements into the PNP. — The joining of MNLF elements into the PNP shall be in accordance with guidelines and procedures under existing laws, as follows: (1) The PNP regional and provincial offices shall initially process MNLF elements intending to join the PNP in accordance with standard procedures for the recruitment, selection, and appointment of PNP uniformed personnel. (2) The PNP shall determine MNLF elements who process the mandatory requirements for joining the PNP based on standards set by RA 6975 (An Act Establishing the Philippine National Police Under a Reorganized Department of the Interior and Local Government, and for Other Purposes) and by pertinent rules and regulations. (3) Qualified MNLF elements who complete the recruitment and selection process shall be appointed to positions in the PNP in accordance with their qualifications and pursuant to existing procedures. (4) The processing of MNLF elements for the abovementioned purpose shall commence on November 1, 1996.ℒαwρhi৷ Section 3. Training of MNLF Elements who joined the PNP. — MNLF elements who have been appointed to positions in the PNP will be sent to PNP Training Centers in Mindanao to undergo Police Basic Training for six (6) months. The Police training programs for these MNLF elements shall be as prescribed by existing laws and rules and regulations, and shall be conducted by the MNLF. Section 4. Disposition of Firearms. — Applicants who voluntarily turn over their firearms shall be compensated in accordance with the AFP Balik-Baril Project. Said firearms shall then be accounted for as government property and may be re-issued to them during training/deployment as members of the PNP units. All firearms still in the possession of MNLF members not turned over to the government as above prescribed, just like those possessed by other citizens, shall be subject to existing firearms laws, rules and regulations. Section 5. Deployment of MNLF Elements who joined PNP. — The deployment of qualified MNLF elements who have joined the PNP and after due training, shall be determined in accordance with existing rules and regulations. Section 6. Funding Support. — Funding requirement for the implementation of this Order shall be sourced from the current appropriation of the Philippine National Police or other sources to be determined by the Department of Budget and Management. Section 7. Rules and Regulations. — The detailed rules, procedures or rules and regulations implemental of this Administrative Order regarding the recruitment, selection, appointment, training, and deployment of MNLF elements who will join the PNP shall be prescribed by the latter in accordance with the policies of the National Police Commission. Section 8. Periodic Reports. — The PNP Director-General shall submit regular reports to the President, through the Secretary of the Department of the Interior and Local Government, on the joining of MNLF elements into the PNP. Adopted: 15 Oct. 1996 (SGD.) FIDEL V. RAMOS President of the Philippines By the President: (SGD.) RUBEN D. TORRES Executive Secretary The Lawphil Project - Arellano Law Foundation