Correct the retirement age of the uniformed services

LT. Gen. Rey Leonardo Guerrero assumed office as chief of staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) last October 26, replacing retired Gen. Eduardo Año. Last December 6, the Commission on Appointments (CA) confirmed his appointment to the top position in the AFP, even if he was due to retire on December 17, on his 56th birth anniversary.

The reason for General Guerrero’s scheduled retirement on December 17 is Presidential Decree 1650 issued by President Marcos in 1979 which provides that “upon attaining 56 years of age or upon accumulation of 30 years of satisfactory active service, whichever is later, an officer or enlisted man shall be compulsorily retired.”

Last May , then Senator Alan Peter Cayetano filed Senate bill 1436 proposing that the retirement age be amended to 60. He said then: “Recognizing their indispensable role as protectors of the state and its citizens, the government has heavily invested in the training and development of the officers and members of these agencies” — referring to the AFP, the Philippine National Police, the Philippine Coast Guard, the Bureau of Fire Protection, and the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology. “We need to maximize their years of experience and wealth of knowledge, harness their leadership skills, and professional competence, until the age of 60.” The bill, however, remains unacted upon to this day.

In the few weeks that he has been in office as chief of staff of the AFP, General Guerrero was able to submit a list of proposed legislation to Congress, including adjustments in the retirement age and terms of major service commanders and the chief of staff. In other countries, he said, generals normally retire at age 60. The Philippine military will surely gain from the experience, wisdom, and expertise of senior officials if they retire at age 56, he added.

Sen. Panfilo Lacson, supported by Sen. Gregorio Honasan, moved for the CA defense committee to recommend Commission on Appointments approval of Guerrero’s appointment, although they knew the general had only a few more weeks to serve. Then last Thursday, President Duterte acknowledged that they indeed had a point. He extended the service of General Guerrero to April 24, 2018, to give him a six-month term. The President has the prerogative to extend the term of the retiring chief of staff, as martial law is still in effect in Mindanao, Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana said.

The President averted the early retirement of General Guerrero with his quick action. As there are bound to be similar situations in the future, Congress should now give due consideration to the bill extending the retirement age of the uniformed services to 60 which is, after all, the retirement age in the government civil service.