Senate, DND, in same page over ‘fixed term’ issue

On Jan 24, 2023

File photo of Department of National Defense Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr.

DEPARTMENT of National Defense Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr. said that the Senate had expressed support for his recommendation on the removal of “fixed terms” in some key positions within the Armed Forces of the Philippines.

In a chance interview with Galvez at the DND last January 23, 2023, Galvez averred the Senate expressed support on his recommendations about the new tenure law in the AFP since he assumed office, following a reported “grumblings” within the military.

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. appointed Galvez, a former AFP chief, as DND secretary last January 9, 2023.

Galvez thanked the Senate led by Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri who openly expressed its support on their recommendation to remove the “fixed term” provision under RA 11709 for other key positions in the military.

“Instead, we will use the term ‘extended tenure of service,’” Galvez told reporters.

Zubiri said the Upper Chamber seeks to pass the bill amending RA 11709 within the first quarter of 2023. Under RA 11709, military officials appointed to key positions will serve a fixed term of three years,

At the Senate hearing last week, Galvez admitted there were “grumblings” within the military due to their delayed promotions under the law.

The statement of Galvez was a response to the query by Senator Jinggoy Estrada, chair of the Senate Committee on National Defense and Security, on whether the unintended consequences of the retirement law have affected the morale of the soldiers.

Estrada has filed SB 1601 limiting the fixed term provisions under RA 11709 to cover only the Chief of Staff and the commanding general of the AFP, 3 major services—Army, Navy and Air Force plus the commandant of the Philippine Military Academy or a total of 5 individual positions.

Under RA 11709 however, aside from the AFP chief and the major services commanders, also given a fixed term of 3-years are: Vice Chief of Staff, Deputy Chief of Staff, AFP Inspector General plus the unified area commanders (SOLCOM, NOLCOM, CENTCOM, EMC, WMC) for a total of at least 13 key positions.

Jinggoy also proposed to lengthen the retirement age for military officials from the mandatory retirement age of 56 covering all ranks to 57 for all one-star (brigade commander) generals, 58 for 2-star (division commander) generals and 59 to 3-star (area commander) generals.