Bill amending law on fixed terms in AFP to get 'strong support' from senators - Zubiri

The bill limiting the coverage of the fixed three-year term in the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) will receive "strong support" from senators, Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri said Saturday.

The lawmaker expressed confidence that the bill would be approved by the chamber.

"Malakas ang kutob ko na maipapasa po ito... Even in our chat group, we discussed it and may mga favorable comment ang mga kasamahan natin, even former [Police] General Bato (dela Rosa), nung kinausap ko po siya, 'yung kanyang suggestion nga AFP chief of staff lang," Zubiri said in a radio interview.

"I think we will get strong support, because if we are going to base it on the only military man in the Senate, Senator dela Rosa, ay gusto rin po n'yang amyendahan ang batas na 'yan," he added.

Earlier, Zubiri said the Senate aimed to pass the bill amending Republic Act 11709 within the first quarter of 2023.

RA 11709, which grants three-year fixed terms for key AFP officials, including the chief of staff, was signed by former President Rodrigo Duterte months before he stepped down from office.

President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. has already certified House Bill 6517, which seeks to amend RA 11709, as urgent.

Defense Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr. admitted last Tuesday that there were rumblings within the military ranks due to the "unintended consequences" of RA 11709.

He said they wanted to resolve the unrest within AFP on or before the end of first quarter of 2023.

Meanwhile, Zubiri said that the Senate would prioritize a bill seeking to establish a military pension fund similar to the Government Service Insurance System (GSIS), as he expressed concern about the large share of pensions for retired AFP personnel in the annual national budget.

"We are paying more now for the pensions of retired military personnel than active military personnel. Mas malaki na po at galing po yan sa General Appropriations Act...We should come up with a GSIS system or SSS system for our military pensioners," he said.

"It's a priority on our part in the Senate, in my administration in the Senate, to come up with this kind of bill that we will help come up with a pension fund similar to GSIS so that their pension funds are secured and this pension fund like in the GSIS, it can be invested," he added. —VBL, GMA Integrated News