Gabriela reps file bill barring military, police personnel from gov’t posts

Lawmakers want to bar all retired and active military and police personnel, including officers from holding government posts.

Gabriela Women's Party (GWP) Reps. Emmi de Jesus and Arlene Brosas led yesterday the filing of House Bill (HB) 5712 which seeks to prohibit all military and police personnel from being appointed to civilian positions.

"The line between civilian authority and the armed forces has been further blurred with President Duterte's appointment of over a dozen military men to key government posts. This should be stopped and civilian rule must be upheld, especially amid the declaration of martial rule in Mindanao," De Jesus said.

HB 5712 provides that all military and police officers and personnel shall be disqualified from being appointed in a concurrent or any other capacity to the positions of secretary, undersecretary, head or member of governing bodies of government-owned or controlled corporations and agencies or other equivalent positions. Such prohibition shall apply even after the military or police officer shall have been separated from service, including retirement.

"This measure becomes more important as a de facto military rule continues to unfold," De Jesus, a martial law victim, said.

Joining De Jesus and Brosas in filing the bill were fellow Makabayan solons – Bayan Muna Rep. Carlos Isagani Zarate, ACT Teachers Rep. Antonio Tinio and France Castro; Anakpawis Rep. Ariel Casilao and Kabataan Rep. Sarah Jane Elago; and JL Burgos, brother of missing activist Jonas Burgos whose abduction has been linked to an AFP chief.