‘… all Presidents after former President Joseph Estrada benefited from it — used that tradition to court the military’s support and keep their minds away from adventurous thoughts called regime change or “people power.”’
PRESIDENT Duterte has effectively scuttled the “revolving door” policy which has been traditionally in effect in the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the Philippine National Police, although it has no basis in law.
This policy means the chief of staff and the PNP chief are made to serve short terms in office, to distribute the largesse of retirement pensions to as many generals as possible. Several of these chiefs served only for a few months before they retired, thus giving way to their other colleagues to hold the top post. In the past — and we are not sure if this continues to the present — retiring generals are given “goodbye presents” and incoming chiefs are given “welcome gifts” by the military and police communities, and these gifts, mostly personal assets and cash, presumably did not come from government funds.
Duterte has signed Republic Act 11709 prescribing fixed terms for the Chief of Staff and senior officers of the AFP. This law used to be Senate Bill 2376 which was sponsored and co-authored by Sen. Panfilo Lacson, chairman of the Senate national defense and security committee.
Lacson said the law will ensure the implementation of merit-based promotion and attrition systems aside from developing a reliable, deep pool of qualified and effective military leaders.
Also important is the fact that AFP leaders will be given the opportunity to implement their legacy programs instead of staying in office too briefly.
Under RA 11709, the AFP chief of staff, vice chief of staff, deputy chief of staff, heads of the major services (Army, Navy and Air Force), unified command commanders, and Inspector General will have a three-year term of office “unless sooner terminated by the President.”
The President may extend the AFP Chief of Staff’s tour of duty in times of war or other national emergency declared by Congress.
Lacson said the revolving door policy has always been a disservice to the mandates of the military leadership entrusted with the security and defense of the country. He added that the new law strengthens professionalism and continuity of the policies and modernization initiatives of the AFP.
What the senator failed to cite is that the revolving door policy was a flawed one because all Presidents after former President Joseph Estrada benefited from it — used that tradition to court the military’s support and keep their minds away from adventurous thoughts called regime change or “people power.” Duterte, in particular, showed a mastery of wooing the military and the police by showering them with salary increases, benefits and perks which all helped him complete his term of office.
Now that they are leaving, Duterte, Lacson, Senate President Vicente Sotto III and House Speaker Lord Allan Velasco, chose to right the wrong and with this new legislation, ditch the revolving door policy, hopefully consigning it to oblivion.
