The Department of National Defense (DND) welcomed Thursday, September 30, the passage of a Senate bill which will provide fixed terms for military officials holding senior positions and ranks in the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), and remove the "revolving door policy" within the organization.
DND Secretary Delfin Lorenzana thanked the Senate for passing on third and final reading Senate Bill No. 2376 also known as the "Act Strengthening Professionalism and Continuity of the Policies and Modernization Initiatives of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, Providing Funds Therefor, and for Other Purposes."
"Like our lawmakers who unanimously passed SBN 2376, the DND firmly believes that the measure will not only allow for continuity, stability, and accountability in the AFP, but will also ensure that only the most capable and competent are promoted to assume leadership positions," Lorenzana said.
Under the measure that was passed last Wednesday, a fixed term of three years shall be given to the AFP chief of staff, vice chief of staff, the deputy chief of staff, major service commanders of the Philippine Army (PA), Philippine Air Force (PAF), and Philippine Navy (PN), unified command commanders, and inspector general.
They shall retire after the completion of their term regardless of age, unlike the present system where the compulsory retirement age is 56, unless promoted to chief of staff, relieved from post, or is not designated to or occupying any position in the AFP Table of Organization.
It also provides a tour of duty of four years for the superintendent of the Philippine Military Academy (PMA) but "shall not be eligible for any other position in the AFP and be compulsorily retired after the completion of the term."
The bill likewise seeks to change the compulsory retirement age of 56 to 59 or an accumulation of 30 years of "satisfactory active duty" for those in the grades of Second Lieutenant or Ensign to Colonel or Captain. Those who have ranks Brigadier General or Commodore to Lieutenant General or Vice Admiral shall be mandatory retired at the age of 59 or the maximum tenure-in-grade.
Meanwhile, the retirement for commissioned personnel and those appointed in the Corps of Professors would be 60 years old or upon completion of 20 years of satisfactory duty. As for the enlisted personnel, the retirement age shall be 56 or upon accumulation of 30 years of satisfactory active duty.
The bill also prohbits retired or resigned military officer from being appointed as Secretary of National Defense within one year from the date of his/her retirement or resignation.
Lorenzana appreciated the senators for "recognizing the urgency and necessity" of the reform which he said "will finally end the revolving door system in the military leadership," referring to the quick entry and exit of an officer from a certain post.