The Senate on Monday approved on third and final reading the measure seeking to set the term of the chief of staff and other senior military officers holding key positions in the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) to three years.

Senate Bill No. 2376 or the “Act Strengthening Professionalism and Continuity of the Policies and Modernization Initiatives of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) was unanimously approved on final reading.

Passage of the measure into law will pave way for the removal of the “revolving door policy” and create a new culture of excellence in leadership and accountability in the organization.

The bill was filed in substitution of SBNs 1785, 1045 and 1370 by Senators Richard Gordon, Aquilino "Koko" Pimentel III and Emmanuel “Manny” Pacquiao.

The bill aims to allow the new leadership a longer term period so he can implement reforms and institutionalize sound policies that would redound to the improvement and professionalization of the AFP.

“Time and again, we see leaders of our armed forces come and go through the ‘revolving door policy,’ staying in the office just to warm up their seats and not long enough to implement their legacy programs,” said Sen. Panfilo “Ping” Lacson, chair of the Senate National Defense and Security, Peace, Unification and Reconciliation and sponsor of the bill.

“This state of things has always been a disservice to the mandates of the military leadership entrusted with the security and defense of the country,” he added.

According to Lacson, the measure also seeks to address stringent restrictions of the Constitution—particularly Section 5, Paragraph 5, Article XVI—which mandates that laws on the retirement of military officers shall not allow for an extension of service.

“It goes without saying that this bill provides the much-needed 'moral incentive' to our military leaders. With their appointment at the helm of the AFP, they get the chance not only to learn the ropes but to actually steer the armed forces in the right direction,” he added.

Under the measure, a fixed term of three (3) years shall be given to the AFP chief of staff, vice chief of staff, the deputy chief of staff, the major service commanders (Philippine Army, Philippine Air Force, Philippine Navy), unified command commanders and inspector general.

The bill also provides a tour of duty of four (4) 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.”

Likewise, the measure seeks to change the compulsory retirement age of 56 to 59 or an accumulation of 30 years of satisfactory active duty, whichever comes earlier, for those in the grades of Second Lieutenant/Ensign (O-1) to Colonel/Captain (O-6).

The bill also provides that the retirement age of 59 or the maximum tenure-in-grade, whichever comes earlier. It shall be effected for those in the grades of Brigadier General/Commodore (O-7) to Lieutenant General/Vice Admiral (O-9).

The proposed measure also prohibits 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.

“Genuine reforms in the military are long overdue. The military institution cannot afford to constantly hit-or-miss because of its ever-changing leadership and institutional environment,” Lacson said.

“It needs continuity, stability, direction and a sense of professionalism that the members of the armed forces rightfully deserve,” he stressed.