Morobe Governor Renbo Paita has raised serious concerns in Parliament over the transparency and integrity of the Papua New Guinea Defense Force recruitment process, questioning whether proper procedures were followed in the latest intake.
During Question Time in Parliament this morning, Governor Paita acknowledged the efforts of Defense Minister Dr. Billy Joseph in improving discipline and administration within the force but warned that the recruitment process must remain fair and credible.
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“This question is of national importance,” he said.
“We all acknowledge the tremendous job the Minister has been doing, but we must ensure that the recruitment process is transparent and maintains national integrity.”
Governor Paita raised concerns about reports and videos circulating on social media allegedly showing overage individuals being accepted into the force.
“There are videos floating around showing overgrown men who seem to have miraculously turned back time to qualify as 18- or 19-year-olds,” he said.
He questioned whether the recruitment process was conducted online or manually, and who was responsible for overseeing the selection.
“If it was an online process, who was in charge? If it was manual, who verified the applications?” he asked.
There are claims of discrepancies and disproportionate representation from certain regions, which is dangerous for national security and long-term stability.”
The governor also highlighted concerns about regional imbalance and the influence of the “wantok system” in recruitment.
“Papua New Guinea is a tribal country. Whether we like it or not, the wantok system is still strong. We should always maintain regional balance” he said.
He further questioned the criteria used in selecting recruits, particularly allegations that individuals who were previously deemed ineligible, including married applicants, were later accepted.
“How did that happen? Are we going to stop the process and review it or let it continue?” he asked.
The Governor also suggested that recruitment for key security institutions such as the defense force, police and correctional services could be outsourced to development partners to ensure fairness and independence.
In a strong call for accountability, he urged the minister to table a full list of successful recruits in Parliament.
“Can you assure this House that you will table the list of those accepted into the intake-their names, provinces, districts, correct ages and even photos-so we can verify the integrity of this process?” he said.
He warned that failure to uphold proper standards could compromise loyalty within the force.
“If people are not qualified and are brought in through influence, they will not be loyal to the Independent State of Papua New Guinea, but to those who put them there,” Paita told Parliament.