3-year terms limited to 4 AFP officers

The House of Representatives has passed on final reading a bill, which would limit the coverage of the fixed three-year term for top military officials.

On Monday, lawmakers voted with 251 affirmative votes and three negative votes to approve on third reading House Bill (HB) No. 6517.

The measure, principally authored by House Speaker Martin Romualdez and House national defense and security panel chair Rep. Raul Tupas, will amend Republic Act No. 11709.

The bill will limit the fixed three-year tour of duty to just four officers: the AFP chief of staff, commanding general of the Philippine Army, commanding general of the Philippine Air Force, and flag officer in command of the Philippine Navy.

The commanding generals of the Army and Air Force and the Navy flag officer in command will not be eligible for any position unless they are promoted to chief of staff.

HB 6517 will exclude the vice chief of staff, deputy chief of staff, unified command commanders and inspector general from the coverage of the three-year fixed term.

The bill, however, will allow the “lateral movement” for these officers. This is as long as no officer will be designated to a key position, except that of chief of staff, if he has less than one year of active service left before compulsory retirement.

No officer would also be promoted to the rank of brigadier general or commodore if he has less than six months of active service before mandatory retirement.

The bill also fixes the compulsory retirement age for certain high-ranking officers: 57 years for those with the rank of brigadier general or commodore, 58 for those with the rank of major general or rear admiral and 59 for those occupying the rank of lieutenant general or vice admiral.

It allows the secretary of national defense, in consultation with the AFP, to determine the number of officers in each grade or rank, and in each major, technical or administrative service. INQ