Law fixes at 3 years tour of duty of AFP top brass
TO ensure better professionalism in the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), President Duterte has signed a new law imposing a threeyear tour of duty as well as extension on the retirement age for key military officials.
Last Friday, Duterte signed Republic Act (RA) No. 11709 or the Act Strengthening Professionalism and Promoting Continuity of Policies and Modernization Initiatives in AFP.
The new law aims to provide a longer term to AFP officials to allow them to implement reforms.
Fixed terms
AMONG its salient provisions: it capped the tour of duty of the following officials to three years: Chief of Staff; Vice Chief of Staff; Deputy Chief of Staff; Commanding General of the Philippine Army; Commanding General of the Philippine Air Force; Flag Officer in Command of the Philippine Navy; Unified Commanders; and Inspector General.
The President may prematurely end the term of the said officials.
They will be retired after the end of their tour of duty unless promoted to Chief of Staff.
Specifically, for the Chief of Staff, his or her term may be extended beyond three years in times of war or other national emergency declared by Congress.
The said officials will be eligible for other positions in the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) only after being promoted to the position of Chief of Staff.
RA 11709 also fixed the term of the Superintendent of the Philippine Military Academy to four years unless terminated sooner by a higher authority.
Adjusted retirement requirements
LIKEWISE, the legislation also adjusted the compulsory retirement of the following military personnel: Second Lieutenant/ensign (0-1) to Colonel/captain upon reaching 56 years old or after accumulating 30 years of satisfactory active duty, whichever is later; Brigadier General/commodore (0-7) to Lieutenant General/vice Admiral (0-9), upon reaching 59 years old or the maximum tenure-in-grade; enlisted personnel upon reaching the age of 56 years old or after accumulating at least 30 years of satisfactory active duty.
An active office or enlisted personnel may request to be retired from military service after 20 years of satisfactory active duty, subject to the approval of either of the following officials: President, Secretary of National Defense, AFP Chief of Staff, or Major Service Commander.
The Department of National Defense (DND) will come out with the implementing rules and regulations (IRR) of RA 11709 within 90 days from its effectiveness.
The legislation will take effect on July 1, 2022 and after its publication in the Official Gazette and at least two newspapers of general circulation.
Upon the effectiveness of RA 11,709, officers and personnel shall be retired one rank higher from the last rank they held provided that the retirement benefits shall be based on the permanent grade last held.