DILI, 25 March 2026 (TATOLI) — The Council of Ministers of Timor-Leste has approved a resolution to partially cancel the 2025 recruitment process for the National Police (PNTL) Training Course following the identification of serious irregularities.
The decision came after Minister of the Interior Francisco da Costa Guterres presented the conclusions of the final report by the Commission for Monitoring and Oversight of the Public Recruitment Process for the PNTL Officer Training Course, established under Government Resolution No. 10/2026 of February 11th, which identified substantial evidence of serious irregularities in this recruitment process.
The resolution mandates that all candidates who have passed the initial phase (document review) of the recruitment process must retake the selection tests (cultural, psychological, and medical).
Furthermore, the Minister of the Interior has been instructed to appoint a new jury with an expanded membership that includes both national and internationally recognised experts, and to establish an independent Oversight and Monitoring Commission with the participation of international partners to ensure transparency, legality, and impartiality at every stage of the process.
The report outlined structural measures to be adopted in future recruitment processes.
It proposes the potential development of protocols to determine liability for conduct that may have breached official duties or legal regulations.
The Government Resolution also recognises the Monitoring and Oversight Commission’s dedication and efforts, emphasising its role in maintaining the credibility of public institutions and citizens’ rights.
Journalist: Camilio de Sousa
Editor: Filomeno Martins
