Facade of the Senate of the Philippines building. (FILE PHOTO)
MANILA, Philippines — The Senate will closely study the two measures seeking to amend the law that mandated a three-year fixed term for key positions in the Armed Forces of the Philippines, Sen. Jinggoy Estrada said on Sunday.
But Estrada, chair of the Senate national defense and security committee, quickly dispelled speculations that the review of Republic Act No. 11709 was related to the supposed unrest in the military that resulted in the resignation of interim Defense Secretary Jose Faustino Jr.
He pointed out that he and Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri had filed the two separate bills early last month “long before reports on alleged rumblings within the [AFP] came out.”
“I would like to disabuse the mind of the public that this is being taken up to quell any destabilization plot or address supposed discord within the military,” Estrada said in a statement.
He also noted that President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. had already certified as urgent House Bill No. 6517 that sought changes in the law, which was signed in April last year by then-President Rodrigo Duterte.
Said Estrada: “Having been certified as urgent by the President, the Senate is duty-bound to take up the measure for immediate consideration.”
Last week, Zubiri said the Senate was “hell-bent” on approving the amendments in the first quarter of 2023.
Estrada said his committee would also seek the comments of other concerned sectors on the measures, which had already been scrutinized by senior AFP officials and enlisted personnel.
“I was not a member of the Senate when this was passed. We will invite the ranking officials to the committee hearing and hear their position or stand on the issue,” the administration senator said.
Last week, Faustino admitted that he was unaware of the sudden change of leadership in the military after Mr. Marcos reappointed Gen. Andres Centino as AFP chief, forcing the unceremonious exit of Lt. Gen. Bartolome Bacarro.
He said he opted to file his irrevocable resignation “after learning only from news and social media reports” that Centino had taken his oath of office before the president in Malacañang.