MANILA, PHILIPPINES — President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. raises the retirement age of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) from 56 to 57 as he signs a new law setting the term of office for key officers.
On Wednesday, President Marcos signed the Republic Act 11939 that amends RA 11709, which set a fixed three-year term of duty for AFP chief and top military officials.
The retirement age for ranks of second lieutenant or ensign to lieutenant general or vice general was raised from 56 to 57. The soldier should be mandatorily retired after they reach retirement age or have accumulated 30 years of active duty service.
While the AFP Chief of staff will have a maximum tour of duty for three years, Chiefs of the Philippine Army, Philippine Air Force, and Philippine Navy, and the superintendent of the Philippine Military Academy will have a maximum tour of duty for two years unless they are terminated sooner.
The AFP accepted the new state of development and stated that “the changes will further strengthen professionalism in the military and ensure the continuity of programs while maintaining the AFP’s dynamic and progressive promotion system.”
The new law states that an officer should have at least one year remaining in active service before mandatory retirement to be eligible for promotion to brigadier general or commodore or higher.
The law also increased the maximum tenure-in-grade meaning the maximum number of years a soldier could hold their position. Brigadier general or commodore have increased from 3 to 5 years, and colonels or captains of the Philippine Navy have increased from 8 to 10 years. For majors and lieutenants, commanders have a maximum of 6 years.
The President can lengthen the tenure-in-grade of officers who rank as captain, major, and lieutenant colonel, or those equivalents of those ranks can get two promotional cycles if it is deemed necessary.
Congress approved the amendments of RA 11709 in March, which was just two months after the sudden changes in AFP leadership. This was when President Marcos appointed Gen. Andres Centino 5 months after placing Lt. Gen. Bartolome Bacarro in the post. – WhatALife!/Zain
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