Fixed term for top military officials to ensure only the best rise to be chiefs —AFP

The new law that sets a fixed term for officers of Armed Forces of the Philippines holding key positions would ensure only the best will ascend to the ladder of leadership, the Armed Forces of the Philippines said.

The AFP added it is optimistic that the newly-signed law will bring stability in the military organization.

“Of course, we are looking at the overall advantage of the law, which is effective leadership. Those on the lower ranks, it will serve as a motivation to do well because only the best and the brightest will go up from rank,” AFP spokesperson Army Colonel Ramon Zagala said.

President Rodrigo Duterte signed Republic Act 11709 — or the Act Strengthening Professionalism and Promoting the Continuity of Policies and Modernization Initiatives in the AFP by Prescribing Fixed Terms for Key Officers thereof, Increasing the Mandatory Retirement Age of Generals/flag Officers, Providing for a More Effective Attrition System, and Providing Funds therefor — on April 13 but it was only announced by Malacañang on Monday, May 16.

Under the law, military officials who will get a fixed three-year term aside from the chief of staff are: vice chief of staff; deputy chief of staff; commanding general of the Philippine Army; commanding general of the Philippine Air Force; flag officer in command of the Philippine Navy; unified command commanders; and inspector general.

Meanwhile, the Department of National Defense said the principal objective of the law is to give generals sufficient time to do their tasks.

It added that the new law limits the number of general officers to 0.01 percentum of the AFP’s total strength, and will reduce the number of its general officers from the present 196 to 153.

According to Chino Gaston’s report on “24 Oras” on Tuesday, retired general Dionisio Santiago, who was a former head of Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA), said there are good and bad consequences of the law to top officials of AFP.

Santiago pointed out that the promotion of junior officers would be prolonged since the AFP chief will remain in office for three years. The mandatory retirement age of generals has also been raised.

“Up to 90 to 93 plus will be affected…baka mag-retire na ‘yung iba na one-star (general) na lang…colonel na nga baka hindi pa mag-heneral," he said.

(Some will retire as one-star general…those who are in colonel position might not reach the general rank.)

“The intention of the law is to provide for continuity, that is good. Ang kompromiso nga lang sana magaling ang napili," he added.

(The only compromise is to hope that the chosen one should be good.) —Mel Matthew Doctor/LDF/KG, GMA News