Dili, 07 February 2026 (Media Democracia) – The Forum of Non-Governmental Otganizations Timor-Leste (FONGTIL) as an umbrella for local, national, and international NGO’s totaling 291, therefore held a press conference today regarding the PNTL new agent test which showed family-ism. The confence was held at fongtil caicoli hall in Dili, Friday this week.
Spokeperson Esterlita Perreira Aroujo stated, FONGTIL is a component of civil society organizations in Timor-Leste that has roles and responsabilities in the state-building process, peace consolidation, and democracy in Timor-Leste through a four-point mandate such as Information Dissemination, Coordination, Empowerment of Members, and Advocacy.
“FONGTIL wants to request the Government through the Ministry of Interior and PNTL Command regarding the recruitment process for new PNTL members in 2025. Many Timorese people participated in the recruitment and followed the processes such as written and physical tests through regulations established by the recruitmment commission based on Ministerial Diploma No.17/2025 of June 25, Regulation for the Public Competition for Admission to the Training Course for Agents of the National Police of Timor-Leste.” Said spokeperson Esterlita Perreira Aroujo in a press conference
The spokeperson continued, on February 03, 2026, the PNTL Recruitment Commission through spokeperson Mr. Antonio da Luz, announced the list of new cadet candidates to the public through national sources in Timor-Leste with a total of 12,876 candidates.
“From this number, 10,597 candidates were APPROVED, and 2,277 candidates weren’t APPROVED, from the approved candidates, the Recruitment Commission decided that only 400 candidates will proceed to the medcal test. Candidates in the approved category and others who are not able to proceed from this medical test, if some candidates according to the list.” Continued spokeperson Esterlita Perreira Aroujo in a press conference
The spokeperson stated, this decision is unfair, discriminatory, and doesn’t guarantee the practice of good governance principles in Timor-Leste. Because it doesn’t comply with Ministerial Diploma No. 17/2025 of june 25, and does not comply with Article 42, Paragrap 1 on the this Diploma.
“FONGTIL and its members still suspect that these practices are to comply with Article 37, Paragraphs A and B, which give priority to the Patriotic generation and PNTL active members’ children to pass. But Ministerial Diploma No.17/2025 of June 25 has been declared unconstitutional by the Court of Appeal.” Informed spokeperson Esterlita Perreira Aroujo in a press conference
The spokeperson reported, seeing the acts that happened, family-ism in the recruitment test for new PNTL agent 2025, FONGTIL and its member demand and recommended asking the Minisrty of Interior and PNTL to provide clear and accurate explanations about the recruitment process for new cadet candidates.
Meanwhile, we request the Ministry of Interior and PNTL Immediately annul the decision, and not only give the medical test to 400 candidates, but give opportunities to all candidates who are in the approved category, recruitment process.
To futher explain regarding this conference, FONTIL wants to request PDHJ to immediately conduct a through investigation to understand the tendency of practices that are againts the principles of Good Governances. Request the National Parlament’s Commission B, which handles Foreign Affairs, Defense, and Security, to conduct oversight on the recruitment process that has a tendency to go againts the priciples of Good Governances.
Reporting : Nelfiano
Photo : Nelfiano