Marines favor separation from Navy, says commandant

Marine commandant Major General Alvin Parreño on Monday said they are in favor of the proposal to turn the Philippine Marine Corp (PMC) into a separate branch of service under the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP).

"Every marine personnel is in favor [of that proposal]," Parreño told reporters. "However, kung ano man ang kahihinatnan noon, we will always obey the chain of command." 

"I, as their representative, it is my duty to express kung ano man ang sentiment ng mga tao under me. Lest, I will be remiss of my duty and my obligation as their representative in looking out for the welfare of the men and for the accomplishment of their mission," he added.

Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana had earlier opposed the proposal, saying that creating a new branch of service under the AFP would mean that there will be two ground forces in the country.

"The marines are expeditionary forces. In other countries like the US, their Marines, upon which we patterned ours, are utilized for overseas deployment. That is also true with the Royal Marines of the UK," Lorenzana said.

"Both units are invasion forces embedded with their navies. The Philippines, on the other hand, will not be invading foreign shores anytime soon or ever," he added.

At present, the AFP has three service branches: the Philippine Army, the Philippine Air Force, and Philippine Navy with the PMC under its command.

Under the House Bill No. 7304 or the Philippine Marine Corps Act, the PMC will be established as an "armed uniformed service, amphibious in character; distinct, autonomous, but complementary to the Army, the Air Force and the Navy, as an independent branch of service of the AFP."

"The PMC shall include ground combat, combat support, combat service support, aviation component, and such other units as may be necessary for the pursuit of its mandate," it added.

Parreño said many seem to support the proposal based on posts on social media.

"Marami kaming nababasa sa Facebook na they are really supporting us at nakakataba ng puso 'yun," he said. "Pero gaya ng sabi namin, the commander-in-chief always has the say and we will always follow the chain of command." —KBK, GMA News