MikeLigalig.com

By Norman Bordadora
Philippine Daily Inquirer
12:20 pm | Friday, January 20th, 2012


MANILA, Philippinesâ€"President Benigno Aquino III said Friday he has vetoed the bill fixing the term of the chief of the Armed Forces of the Philippines at three years.

The Chief Executive said the proposed law, which cleared both houses of Congress, violates Article 16, Section 5 of the Constitution.

“I actually sent a message to both chambers that I vetoed the same. There’s a provision of the Constitution that says laws on retirement cannot extend service or something to that effect,” President Aquino told reporters.

The President said there is a provision in the bill that says the retirement of the chief of staff would be deferred if he or she reaches the retirement age but has yet to serve the full three-year term.

By Katherine Evangelista
INQUIRER.net
3:03 pm | Friday, January 20th, 2012


MANILA, Philippines â€"The Armed Forces of the Philippines on Friday said it respects the decision of the Commander-in-Chief, President Benigno Aquino III, in rejecting the proposed fixed three-year term of military officials.

“We will honor and respect the decision of the President and Commander in Chief,” Colonel Arnulfo Burgos, Jr., AFP spokesman, said in a statement.

“With or without the fixed term, we will continue to work harder to professionalize our ranks and strive to be more efficient and effective in the performance of our mandate,” Burgos said.

Aquino vetoed the bill, saying it conflicts with the Constitution’s provision on the laws of retirement.