President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. has signed into legislation a measure looking for to strengthen professionalism within the Armed Forces of the Philippines, which embody amended provisions on the tour of responsibility and appointment of key army officers.
Marcos signed on May 17, 2023 Republic Act No. 11939, or An Act Further Strengthening Professionalism and Promoting the Continuity of Policies and Modernization Initiatives within the Armed Forces of the Philippines, and Amending for this Purpose Republic Act No. 11709.
Marcos’ predecessor, Rodrigo Duterte, signed Republic Act No. 11709 in May of final yr.
Under the brand new legislation, the next officers holding key positions within the AFP shall have a most tour of responsibility of two consecutive years, which shall start on the date the appointment is signed, except sooner terminated by the President:
- Commanding General, Philippine Army;
- Commanding General, Philippine Air Force;
- Flag Officer in Command, Philippine Navy; and
- Superintendent, Philippine Military Academy
These officers shall not be eligible for any place within the AFP except promoted to the place of Chief of Staff.
In the legislation signed by Duterte, chiefs of the Army, the Navy, and the Air Force got a set three-year time period whereas the PMA superintendent was given a tour of responsibility of 4 years.
Meanwhile, the AFP chief of workers will nonetheless have a most tour of responsibility of three consecutive years, which shall start on the date the appointment is signed, except sooner terminated by the President, underneath the brand new legislation.
In the obligatory retirement for army personnel, the next officers shall be obligatory retired:
- Those within the grades of second lieutenant/ensign (O-1) to Lieutenant General/Vice Admiral (O-9), upon reaching the age of 57-years-old or upon accumulation of 30 years of passable energetic responsibility, whichever comes later;
- The chief of workers of the Armed Forces of the Philippines underneath Section 2 (a) of this Act, upon completion of the tour of responsibility or upon aid by the President;
- Those occupying a key place underneath Section 2 (b) of this Act, upon completion of the tour of responsibility, or upon aid by the President; and
- Those commissioned underneath Presidential Decree No. 1908, and people appointed within the Corps of Professors upon reaching the age of 60-years-old or completion of 20 years of passable energetic responsibility, whichever comes later.
The new legislation additionally mandates that an enlisted personnel shall be obligatory retired upon accumulation of at the least 30 years of passable energetic responsibility or upon reaching the age of 57-years-old, whichever comes later.
Meanwhile, it additionally states the utmost tenure of officers within the grades of normal/flag officer within the AFP:
- General/Admiral (O-10) – 3 years
- Lieutenant General/Vice Admiral (O-9) – 3 years
- Major General/Rear Admiral (O-8) – 3 years
- Brigadier General/Commodore (O-7) – 5 years
Further, the utmost tenure of officers within the grades of colonel, lieutenant colonel, main and captain are hereby prescribed as follows:
- Colonel/Captain (PN) (O-6) – 10 years
- Lieutenant Colonel/Commander (PN) (O-5) – 7 years
- Major/Lieutenant Commander (PN) (O-4) – 6 years
- Captain/Lieutenant (PN) (O-3) – 6 years
The provisions of this Act shall additionally apply to the officers and enlisted personnel appointed and/or promoted underneath RA No. 11709 in addition to different pertinent legal guidelines.
The Department of National Defense is tasked to formulate the required guidelines and rules of this newly-signed legislation. — RSJ, GMA Integrated News
Source: www.gmanetwork.com
