Question & AnswerQ&A (Republic Act No. 11709)
The main objective of Republic Act No. 11709 is to strengthen professionalism and promote the continuity of policies and modernization initiatives in the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) by prescribing fixed terms for key officers, increasing the mandatory retirement age of generals/flag officers, providing a more effective attrition system, and ensuring merit-based promotions.
Key officers with a fixed tour of duty of three years include the Chief of Staff, Vice Chief of Staff, Deputy Chief of Staff, Commanding General of the Philippine Army, Commanding General of the Philippine Air Force, Flag Officer in Command of the Philippine Navy, Unified Command Commanders, and the Inspector General.
The Superintendent of the PMA shall have a fixed tour of duty of four years and is exempt from the maximum tenure-in-grade. The Superintendent must hold the rank of Lieutenant General or Vice Admiral.
No extension of the tour of duty is allowed for key officers except for the Chief of Staff, whose tour of duty may be extended during times of war or national emergency declared by Congress.
Officers ranked Second Lieutenant/Ensign to Colonel/Captain retire at age 56 or 30 years of active duty, whichever is later; Brigadier General/Commodore to Lieutenant General/Vice Admiral retire at age 59 or maximum tenure in grade, whichever comes earlier; and those under Presidential Decree No. 1908 or Corps of Professors retire at age 60 or 20 years of active duty, whichever is later.
The maximum tenure-in-grade for generals and flag officers (ranks Brigadier General/Commodore to General/Admiral) is three years.
Forced attrition refers to the separation or retirement of military personnel who fail to qualify for promotion due to their fault, failure, negligence, or lack of merit, or who have reached the maximum tenure-in-grade without promotion.
Officers must be at least 21 but not more than 28 years old at appointment, except certain corps (Nurse Corps, Medical Administrative Corps, Dental Service, Veterinary Corps) where the maximum age is 30, and special appointments like those under Presidential Decree No. 1908 where the age ranges from 25 to 40 years.
No retired or resigned military officer may be appointed as Secretary of National Defense within one year from the date of retirement or resignation.
One year after approval, the officer distribution shall not exceed: 1% generals/flag officers, 6% colonels/captains, 12% lieutenant colonels/commanders, 18% majors/lieutenant commanders, 20% captains/lieutenants, and 43% in the ranks of first lieutenant/lieutenant junior grade and second lieutenant/ensign.