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Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, August 1) — Incoming Armed Forces chief Bartolome Vicente Bacarro is the first top military official to be covered by the recently signed law granting them a fixed term and a later mandatory retirement age, officials confirmed on Monday.
Department of National Defense spokesperson Arsenio Andolong said Bacarro will serve for three years from the day President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. signs his appointment papers.
Bacarro is supposed to reach his mandatory age of retirement of 56 in September. But for a lieutenant general like him, Republic Act 11709 states the retirement age will be 59 or the maximum tenure-in-grade, whichever comes earlier.
The Medal of Valor awardee was appointed as AFP chief of staff to succeed Andres Centeno. Bacarro, who serves as Southern Luzon Command chief, has yet to assume his new post.
