COTABATO CITY – The Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao’s (ARMM) top policeman assured the public Wednesday that the highest ethical standards will be observed in the recruitment of new police officers for the region.
Chief Supt. Graciano Mijares, Police Regional Office (PRO)-ARMM director, said the region only needs 600 new policemen for the second half of 2018 but current applications have reached as many as 1,300.
“There will be no “padrino” system, no corruption and no irregularities,” Mijares told reporters, even as he asked the media to help scrutinize the recruitment process. He also urged the applicants to bring to his attention any irregularity in the recruitment process, provided they have evidence to prove their claim.
“All applicants must pass the screening according to his or her ability and not because of whom he or she knows in the police force,” Mijares said, adding that the rising number of applicants was an indication that more young Filipinos want to serve and protect the country.
Mijares said he has directed the PRO-ARMM Regional Human Resource and Development Division to ensure that no corruption and irregularity would occur in the entire recruitment process. He also vowed to punish those found to have violated the policy on transparency and accountability. (Noel Punzalan/PNA)
