Lorenzana lauds fixed term for AFP chief

MANILA, Philippines — Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana yesterday lauded the passage of a Senate bill providing a fixed term for military officials.

The Senate has unanimously approved on third and final reading a measure seeking to set the term of the Armed Forces of the Philippines chief and other senior AFP officials to three years.

Lorenzana thanked the Senate for “recognizing the necessity of this reform, which will finally end the revolving door system in the AFP leadership.”

“Like our lawmakers who passed Senate Bill 2376, the defense department believes that the measure will not only allow for continuity, stability and accountability in the AFP, but will also ensure that only the most capable and competent are promoted to assume leadership positions,” he said.

Lorenzana earlier underscored the need to have a fixed term for senior officials of the military to stabilize the AFP leadership.