Under the new Coast Guard law, relieved commandant must retire immediately
President Ferdinand Marcos has signed a law amending the Philippine Coast Guard Act to provide for the mandatory retirement of the PCG commandant if he is relieved before completing his three-year term.
Republic Act No. 12122 amended RA 9993, which earlier fixed the maximum term of the PCG commandant at three years.
The President signed the new law on Tuesday, and it went into effect on Wednesday after being posted on the Official Gazette.
The PCG is one of three armed uniformed services of the government whose primary mandate is to enforce laws within the Philippines’ waters, conduct maritime security operations for government agencies, safeguard life and property at sea, and protect the marine environment and resources.
It is an attached agency of the Department of Transportation, but it may also serve as an attached agency of the Department of National Defense during times of war.
The PCG is a government agency that conducts routine deployment and patrol missions in the West Philippine Sea and has been a victim of China’s aggressive actions on multiple occasions.
Under RA 12122, the PCG commandant will be selected from the PCG’s flag officers and should have a command-at-sea badge and served as a PCG district commander. The PCG commandant will have the rank of Coast Guard Admiral.
“The Commandant shall have a maximum term of three years, which shall commence on the date the appointment is signed, unless sooner terminated by the President,” the new law said.
RA 12122 added: “The PCG Commandant shall be compulsorily retired upon completion of the maximum term or upon relief by the President.”
Signed by then President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo in February 2010, RA 9993 did not have explicit provisions for the mandatory retirement of the PCG commandant if he is terminated or relieved ahead of the completion of his three-year tour of duty.
RA 12122 added that its provisions will apply to PCG commandants appointed or promoted under RA 9993 and other relevant laws.
