House body approves mandatory three years civilian life for

military officers prior to appointment as DND chief

The House Committee on National Defense and Security has reported out for floor
deliberation a measure prohibiting the appointment of a commissioned officer of the
Armed Forces of the Philippines as Secretary of the Department of National Defense
(DND) ithin three (!) years after relief" separation or retirement from acti#e duty$
House %ill No$ & amends Section '( of Chapter )* %oo+ ,- of ./ecuti#e 0rder
&1&" otherise +non as the Administrati#e Code of )123$
,t as principally sponsored by 4ep$ 4odolfo %ia5on (6one District" 7untinlupa
City)" chairman of the House Committee on National Defense" and co8authored by 4eps$
Ferdinand Hernande5 (&
nd
District" South Cotabato)" and 9oa:uin 7$ Chipeco" 9r$ (&
nd
District" 6aguna)$
Administrati#e Code of )123 pro#ides for the general :ualifications and limitations
re:uired of all department secretaries" in addition to those prescribed in their respecti#e
charters$
,n the case of the Secretary of the Department of National Defense" %ia5on" former
Armed Forces Chief of Staff" stressed the need to emphasi5e further the supremacy of
ci#ilian authority o#er the military$
;%y prohibiting a former military officer from being appointed ithin three years
after relief from acti#e duty" the position ill be shielded from contro#ersies arising from
appointments" assignments" and other acti#ities ithin the AFP"< %ia5on said$
;%y ha#ing no prior personal and professional relationships ith the officers" the
Secretary of National Defense ould be more ob=ecti#e and impartial in policy
formulation and determination"< %ia5on added$
The prohibition shall also afford the former military officer sufficient time to adapt
to ci#ilian life" according to %ia5on$
Among the former military officers ho li#ed a ci#ilian life for se#eral years before
ser#ing as the Secretary of National Defense are the late President 4amon 7agsaysay
(September )" )1(* to February &2" )1(! and 9anuary to 7ay )1(')> 7acario Peralta" 9r$
()1?&8?()> 4afael 7$ ,leto ()12?8)122)" and -oltaire T$ @a5min (9uly )" &*)* to present)$
(!*) jsc
NR # 3568
AUG 24, 2014