PRESIDENT Marcos Jr. has signed into law a measure that fix-es and clarifies the term of office of the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) commandant.
Republic Act (RA) 12122, which the President signed on Feb. 18, states that the “Commandant shall have a maximum of three years, which shall commence on the date the appointment is signed, unless sooner terminated by the President.”
It added that the PCG Commandant shall also be “compulsorily retired upon completion of the maximum term or upon relief by the President.”
The new law amended RA 9993, or the Philippine Coast Guard Law of 2009, which stated that the term of the PCG comman-dant shall also have a maximum term of three years but “a commandant who has served for three (3) years prior to his compulsory retirement shall be considered retired and entitled to all the benefits available to a Coast Guard officer as if he is compulsory retired.”
RA 12122 stated that its provisions shall apply to the PCG commandant appointed and/or promoted under the Philippine Coast Guard Law of 2009 and other pertinent laws.
The new law, a copy of which was uploaded in the Official Gazette yesterday, shall take effect immediately after its complete publication in the Official Gazette or at least one newspaper of general circulation.
