Galvez: DND recommending removal of 'fixed terms' in AFP

Defense Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr. on Monday said they have recommended to the Senate to remove the “fixed terms” of key Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) officials.

In an ambush interview, Galvez noted that the Senate — which is eyeing to amend Republic Act 11709 or the Act Strengthening Professionalism in the AFP — has expressed support for their recommendation.

"We are very thankful that the Senate, headed by our Senate President [Miguel Zubiri], made a statement that they will support our recommendation, which we will already remove the term 'fixed term,' instead we will use the term 'extended tenure of service'," Galvez told reporters in Camp Aguinaldo.

According to Galvez, if the Senate adopts their recommendation, the career management of AFP key officers would be "flexible" and "not absolute."

"So there is no such thing as fixed term already. Yung nga ang ano namin, kung ma-adopt yun, para at least talagang hindi magiging absolute, magiging flexible yung tinatawag nating career management ng ating mga key officers," he said.

(So there will be no such thing as fixed term already. That's our recommendation, so if it is adopted, at least the career management of our key officers would not be absolute but flexible.)

If the recommendation gets the Senate's nod, Galvez said concerned AFP officers can be extended to their positions or can be replaced if they do no longer enjoy the trust and confidence of the President "without the restrictions of the law."

"Nakikita natin na maganda yung magiging flexibility (We see that the flexibility would be good)," Galvez, himself a retired military general, said.

"If the trust and confidence of the President has been removed, he can immediately replace [the officer] without restrictions of the law," he added.

On Sunday, Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri said the bill limiting the coverage of the fixed three-year term in the AFP will receive "strong support" from senators.

Zubiri earlier said the Senate aimed to pass the bill amending RA 11709 within the first quarter of 2023.

On January 12, Galvez said fixed three-year terms may lead to stagnation in the promotion cycle in the AFP and demoralization among military officers.

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.

Galvez said the issue was among the factors that caused "rumblings" or "unrest" within the military. —Joviland Rita/KBK, GMA Integrated News