During a Senate hearing on Tuesday, DEFENSE Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr. revealed that there was resentment inside the military owing to the delayed promotions.
Galvez made the comment in response to a question from Sen. Jose "Jinggoy" Estrada on whether the unforeseen effects of the country's retirement law had had a negative impact on military morale. Those in Classes 90, 91, 92, 93, and 94 are the most impacted, according to him.
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Estrada presided over the National Defense Committee's hybrid hearing on Senate Bills (SBs) 1601 and 1603, which seek to alter Republic Act (RA) 11709, or An Act Strengthening Professionalism in the Armed Forces of the Philippines, which has been in effect for nine months (AFP).
"There were persons who were really competent, but because of their age, they were deprived and retired; the affected officers were deprived, and the organization was also deprived of having a qualified officer," stated the Defense Department chief.
"According to the legislation, an AFP member must retire at the age of 56, and the promotion process is extremely lengthy owing to the present 'fixed term,'" he continued.
Galvez emphasized the importance of amending Republic Act 11-709 to solve the "grumbling" inside the military establishment.
"Instead of a 'fixed term,' Congress must approve laws requiring AFP officers to serve for a "maximum term," he added.
Galvez stated that he discussed the subject with President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. before the President traveled to Switzerland.
He stated that they plan to get things back to normal by the end of the first quarter of 2023.
Galvez's remarks come a day after former Defense Secretary Norberto Gonzales told The Manila Times in an exclusive interview that while Galvez's appointment and that of Eduardo Ano as National Security Adviser may have quieted the military establishment, Marcos must look beyond issues of leadership to stabilize the situation.
