Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, January 22) – Senate President Miguel Zubiri on Saturday said many senators are in favor of amending the law that set a three-year term for ranking officials of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) to appease grumblings in the military.
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READ: Galvez admits ‘grumblings’ within AFP over fixed term law
“Bago po kami nag-break noong December pinag-usapan na po namin iyan ng marami nating kasamahan (Before we went on recess last December we talked about it with several of our colleagues), and they mentioned their willingness to amend the law,” Zubiri said in an interview.
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“Pabor sila na amendyahan muli ang batas (They are in favor of amending the law) to capture the essence of the law from the very beginning, which is only to have the leadership on a fixed term,” he said. “Leadership lamang po of the AFP…Malakas ang kutob ko na maipapasa po natin ito.”
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[Translation: Just the leadership of the AFP… I have a feeling this will be passed.]
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READ: Senate ‘hell-bent’ on amending AFP fixed term law — Zubiri
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Republic Act No. 11709, or the Act Strengthening Professionalism in the AFP, that took effect in July 2022 aims to put a stop to the “revolving door policy” in which military chiefs serve for only a few months before their mandatory retirement.
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The law states that the following will have a fixed tour of duty of three years: Chief of Staff, Vice Chief of Staff, Deputy Chief of Staff, Commanding General of the Army, Commanding General of the Air Force, Flag Officer in Command of the Navy, Unified Command Commanders and Inspector General.
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However, Galvez said R.A. 11709 has affected the morale of some soldiers as the law could also derail the promotion of about 135,000 enlisted personnel, particularly officers from the rank of private to first chief master sergeant.
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Zubiri said the original plan is to fix the term of the Chief of Staff to promote continuity in the AFP.
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He also said he is in favor of Galvez’s suggestion to the Senate Committee on National Defense that only the Chief of Staff will have a three-year term, while the chiefs of the Air Force, Army and Navy will have two years.
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READ: Galvez says rumblings within military merely ‘tampo’ over new law on fixed terms
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Despite the reported grumblings in the AFP, Zubiri said he is not worried about stability in the military.
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“I strongly and strongly believe na ang (that the) AFP is a professional force. Iba na po ‘yung sa 1970s na nangyari. ‘Yung mga nagkaroon ng mga usaping coup d’état. Malayo na po sa isipan ng mga sundalo po natin.”
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[Translation: It’s not the same as what happened in the 1970s, when there were talks about coup d’état. That is far from the minds of our soldiers now.]
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He also said the Senate will study the amendments to the measure on the military’s pension fund, which is currently sourced from the General Appropriations Act (GAA).
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“We’re paying more pension of the retired military personnel than active personnel…Actually kausap ko si Wick Veloso, head ng GSIS (Government Service Insurance System). Sabi nga niya, ‘Simplify na lang natin, Migz. Let’s come up with a law. Just add on our budget the initial one or two years. Willing po kami sa GSIS na tanggapin ang pension fund ng ating mga beterano,” Zubiri explained.
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[Translation: I spoke to Wick Veloso, the head of the GSIS. He said, ‘let’s simplify it, Migz. Let’s come up with a law. Just add on our budget the initial one or two years. The GSIS is willing to accept the pension fund of our veterans.’]
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