3-year fixed term for top military officials will ‘stabilize’ AFP

MANILA, Philippines—Finally the controversial revolving-door policy in the leadership of the Armed Forces of the Philippines is over.

As the House of Representatives approved on Monday night the House and Senate versions of the fixed terms for AFP officials, a military spokesman said on Tuesday said it is a “significant development” to the organization.

Speaking to reporters, AFP public affairs chief, Colonel Arnulfo Marcelo Burgos Jr. said the development will help “stabilize” the AFP as planning and implementation of projects take a “long period of time.”

“..Aside from continuity among the different chiefs of staff, a longer term for chief of staff would give him adequate time to plan, examine and implement to be able to arrive at desired end state,” he said.

The measure gave a three-year fixed term for the AFP chief of staff, while a two-year term for the commanders of the major services: Philippine Army, Philippine Air Force and Philippine Navy.

Burgos said an appointed chief of staff may go beyond the mandatory retirement age of 56 when called for, but his term may be also be shortened.

He added the President still has the power to remove a Chief of Staff or a commander of a major service when he loses confidence to the appointed official.

Incumbent AFP Chief of Staff Eduardo Oban will not be included once the fixed term is implemented, he said.

He also assured that this will not cause “demoralization” once implemented as it will be for the “benefit of the organization.”

During the Arroyo administration, the so-called revolving door policy has become rampant with retiring officials appointed as chief of staff for less than a year.

In her nine-year-rule, former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo had 11 chiefs of staff, with the shortest term serving for less than two months.

As chief of staff, retirement assured millions of pesos as part of the “send-off” package.