Galvez admits 'rumblings' within AFP, eyes resolution in March

Defense Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr. on Tuesday said they are eyeing to resolve the unrest within the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) on or before the end of first quarter of 2023.

Galvez made the assurance at a Senate hearing as he admitted that there are rumblings within the military ranks due to the "unintended consequences" of Republic Act 11709, which grants three-year fixed term for key AFP officials, including the chief of staff.

"Yes, kasi sir 'yung effects sir, 'yung unintended consequences po ng ating retirement law talagang it gravely affected the morale," he told the senators when asked to confirm the rumblings within the AFP.

"We have told the President that we will fix things and hopefully, maayos po namin ito, your honors, earliest possible time ang pinaka ano namin, we are able to normalize everything on or before the end of the quarter," Galvez said.

The Defense chief disclosed that he personally requested President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. to make the appointments before going to Davos, Switzerland for the World Economic Forum.

Galvez narrated that he made the request while they were on their way to Ozamiz City last week.

"Ang sinabi ko kay Mr. President, 'Sir, if you mind, before going to Davos we finish the remaining positions, the recommendations that we have.' Nung pumunta siya po sa Davos, nag-report siya 'Charlie, I already signed everything and my promise to you that I will sign during Satuday and Sunday nag-comply ako sa'yo'," he said.

"Ang sabi ko there is a major issue that we need to tackle—ano ito buhay ito ng ating mga officers. Thirty years nilang pinaghirapan tapos magiging in default lang sila because one delayed promotion and also delay in designation," he added.

Galvez attributed the delay in the appointments to the election ban and the transition from the Duterte administration and the Marcos administration.

The Defense secretary said the delayed appointments will mostly affect those officers who belong to Class '90 and '94

"Sa ngayon, kung ma-fix natin ito...Malaki po ang tulong. It will ano 'yung apprehensions nila na the ensuing class lalo na po yung Class '90, '91, '92 na maapektuhan sila, and there will be some sort of arbitrarily madi-disqualify from the competition. Kasi 14 positions yon and it will greatly affect yung dynamism ng organization," Galvez said.

He added that the senior AFP officers are complaining about the "sense of fairness and meritocracy" and to amend the law which effectively discriminates them  from the competition.

"Ang gusto natin is we have to equalize 'yung playing fields at the same time we will not arbitrarily remove the best among the qualified from holding the key positions of three stars and one four star," he said.

"Majority of the issues, if we will pass this amendment, will solve the lingering— both short-term and long-term effects of the law that we have passed previously. Although we acknowledge the beauty of the [RA] 11709, the intention of preventing the revolving door policy, the unintended consequences of prohibiting the junior classes to compete equally, medyo 'yun po ang nagiging epekto."

The Senate committee on national defense and security, peace, unification, and reconciliation on Tuesday tackled the bills seeking to amend RA 11709.—AOL, GMA Integrated News