Marines chief backs proposal to create new AFP branch of service

Maj. Gen. Alvin Parreño, command of the Philippine Marine Corps, gives a speech at the 67th founding anniversary of his unit on Tuesday, Nov. 7, 2017. (Photo from an RTVM video)

Philippines Marines chief Maj. Gen. Alvin Parreño has expressed support to the proposed law of institutionalizing the Philippine Marine Corps (PMC) as a fourth branch of service of the military.

“We are in favor,” he told reporters Friday.

He clarified the PMC does not aim to compete for resources with the other branches of service — the Philippine Army, Air Force and Navy — as it has no intention of becoming “a big unit.”

“We have this TO (Table of Organization) that we need to fill up. Ang fill up ng aming mga battalions ay kulang na kulang and my first objective is to fill that up,” he said.

The PMC Act (House Bill No. 7304) proposes to establish the PMC, currently under the Navy’s command, as an independent branch of service of the Armed Forces of the Philippines.

The PMC would be “amphibious in character” and would be composed of ground combat, combat support, combat service support, aviation component and other necessary units.

The PMC’s current strength is estimated at around 8,000.

“There will be transition and we are still preparing for it. The Royal British Marines remains at 8,000 even though they are a separate service,” Parreño said.  /jpv