Marcos signed RA 11939, or the Act Further Strengthening Professionalism and Promoting the Continuity of Policies and Modernization Initiatives in the Armed Forces of the Philippines and Amending for this purpose Republic Act 11709.
RA 11709, which was signed by former President Rodrigo Duterte in May 2022, determined a three-year fixed term of duty, regardless of age, for top military officials such as the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) chief of staff, vice chief of staff, deputy chief of staff, commanding generals of the Philippine Army, Air Force and Navy, Unified Command commanders and the inspector general.
It also raised the retirement age for soldiers depending on their rank.
Under RA 11939, the commanding generals of the Philippine Army, Air Force, Navy and the superintendent of the Philippine Military Academy (PMA) shall have a maximum tour of duty of two consecutive years.
The PMA superintendent under Duterte’s RA 11709 was given a four-year fixed term.
The two-year fixed term shall commence on the date the appointment is signed, unless sooner terminated by the President.
The officials will no longer be eligible to hold any position in the organization unless they are promoted to the position of the chief of staff.
“To be eligible for appointment or promotion to the grade of Brigadier General/Commodore (0-7) or higher, except for positions under Section 2(a) and 2(b), the officer must have at least one year remaining of active service before compulsory retirement,” the law read.
The new law maintained the maximum three-year tour of duty for the AFP chief of staff.
The following officers of the AFP shall be compulsorily retired:
* Those in the grades of Second Lieutenant/Ensign
(0-1) to Lieutenant General/Vice Admiral (O-9), upon reaching the age of 57, or upon accumulation of 30 years of satisfactory active duty, whichever comes later;
* The Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines under Section 2(a) of this Act, upon completion of the tour of duty or upon relief by the President;
* Those occupying a key position under Section 2(b) of this Act, upon completion of the tour of duty, or upon relief by the President;
* Those commissioned under Presidential Decree 1908, and those appointed in the Corps of Professors upon reaching the age of 60 years old or completion of 20 years of satisfactory active duty, whichever comes later.
An enlisted personnel shall be compulsorily retired upon accumulation of at least 30 years of satisfactory active duty or upon reaching the age of 57, whichever comes later.
The maximum tenure of officers based on rank is as follows:
* General/Admiral (O-10) – 3 years
* Lieutenant General/Vice Admiral (O-9) – 3 years
* Major General/Rear Admiral (O-8) – 3 years
* Brigadier General/Commodore (O-7) – 5 years
* Colonel/Captain (PN) (O-6) – 10 years
* Lieutenant Colonel/Commander (PN) (O-5) – 7 years
* Major/Lieutenant Commander (PN) (O-4) – 6 years
* Captain/Lieutenant (PN) (O-3) – 6 years. (SunStar Philippines)