Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Chief General Romeo Brawner Jr.

The military supports Department of National Defense (DND) Secretary Gilbert "Gibo" Teodoro Jr.'s proposal for the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) to dispose of its real properties, as well as assets left from the P44-billion Retirement and Separation Benefits System (RSBS) and use the proceeds as seed capital for a new and separate pension fund for soldiers. 

AFP Chief General Romeo Brawner Jr. had this to say during his recent confirmation hearing with the Commission on Appointments (CA). 

Among those attending the hearing was Camarines Sur 2nd district Rep. LRay Villafuerte, majority leader of the CA. 

When asked by Villafuerte on whether or not he shares Teodoro’s position on the substitute Military and Uniformed Personnel (MUP) pension reform bill approved last month by a House Ad Hoc Committee, Brawner said he backs the defense secretary’s position on the sale of AFP assets and the establishment of a pension system for our soldiers separate from those of other uniformed personnel. 

“I share the same sentiment po, especially on the separation of the military from the other uniformed services when it comes to the pension system. Dahil nga po doon sa rason na  (It's because of the reason that) we are going to use the existing assets of the AFP to be able to fund the pension that will be needed by our retirees and by our personnel, Mr. Chair,” said Brawner. 

Brawner told Villafuerte that based on the military leadership’s consultations with stakeholders, the soldiers were willing to contribute their share to the new fund to keep the proposed AFP pension system sustainable. 

However, they agree with Teodoro that their personal contribution should be at an amount that would—in the defense secretary’s own words—affect those in active service in “the least possible way". 

The House Ad Hoc Committee on MUP reform chaired by Albay 2nd district Rep. Joey Salceda passed lasr month a substitute bill on pension reform that according to him was acceptable to all stakeholders, including Teodoro. 

The DND chief had opposed the measure’s original version. 

Villafuerte said at the CA hearing that the financial pickle in the current system is that the retirement pensions and benefits of our MUP were “fully funded by the national government through the annual appropriations despite having no contributions from the retirees". 

The Camarines Sur solon had noted that President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr., in his second State of the Nation Address (SONA), said that the MUP reform bill should be less burdensome the soldier-contributors. 

"The AFP has been always willing to sacrifice for our country, and when this news came out about the possible financial collapse of our country because of the pension system, noong nagusap-usap po ang mga sundalo (the soldiers spoke to each other) and when we did our consultations handa naman pong mag sakripisyo uli ang ating mga sundalo (The soldiers are ready to make a sacrifice)," Brawner said. 

"In fact, I mentioned earlier when I came into the service we were already contributing to the RSBS for our pension,” Brawner said. “Unfortunately, the RSBS had to be closed down because probably of mismanagement but handa po yung mga sundalo natin (but our soldiers are ready).”