“Therefore to implement this law, the Armed Forces of the Philippines needs strong and determined leaders, capable of steering the organization in the direction of stabilizing unity and ushering in a truly modern and professional armed forces,” he also said.
Under RA 11709, military officials appointed to key positions will serve a fixed term of three years, except for the Philippine Military Academy superintendent, who will have a four-year tour of duty. This law wants to put an end to the so-called revolving-door policy or the rapid succession of AFP chiefs who had to step down after serving for a short period upon reaching the mandatory retirement age of 56.
Concerns were raised over the possibility of a significant number of officers facing attrition or reduction in numbers, especially among lieutenant colonels and colonels who occupy important posts, due to reduced “tenure-in-grades” of seven and eight years, respectively. A tenure-in-grade is the maximum length of time that an officer needs to serve before being promoted.President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. reappointed Centino as AFP chief of staff, replacing Lt. Gen. Bartolome Bacarro, Malacañang announced on Friday./MUF