EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
OF THE PHILIPPINES
First Regular Session
SENATE
S.B. NO. 989
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AUG 28 P6 22
Introduced by Senator Maria Lourdes Nancy S. Binay
AN ACT
ESTABLISHING THE PHILIPPINE MARINE CORPS, DEFINING ITS 
POWERS AND FUNCTIONS, APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR, AND 
FOR OTHER PURPOSES
EXPLANATORY NOTE
The Philippine Marine Corps C'PMC") was organized on November 7, 1950 
under the orders of former President Elpidio Quirino and former Secretary of 
National Defense Ramon Magsaysay through the Armed Forces of the Philippines 
C'AFP") General Orders nr. 319 s. 1950. The PMC was first organized to respond 
to the security threat of the emerging Hukbalahap insurgency in Central Luzon 
up to Marawi, Mindanao.
Despite experiencing institutional challenges, including but not limited to 
fiscal and organizational restrictions, due the absence of its own Charter, the 
PMC has lived up to its mandate in providing amphibious and rapid deployment 
units and seamless transition of military power between sea and land domains.
Over the years, the men and women of the PMC have gallantly served and 
responded to the call of duty. In the 1960s, the PMC spearheaded the strategic 
maneuvers against the Hukbalahap. In the 1980s, they upheld stability of the 
country during the EDSA People Power. In the 2000s, the PMC were the one of 
the main forces in the fall of Camp Abu Bakr as well as combating terrorist in 
Basilan, Sulu, and Tawi-Tawi. In the 2010s, the valiant men and women of the


PMC also provided assistance to many Filipino people affected by natural 
disasters.
The numerous engagements of the PMC in protecting and fighting for our 
country with honor and pride have given their lives for the motherland since the 
1950s. In respect of their service, it is adjuratory that the establishment of a 
charter that would institutionalize the PMC to alleviate them of institutional 
challenges.
The archipelagic geography of the Philippines calls for the need for an 
expanded, rapidly deployable amphibious maneuver force mandated to conduct 
seaborne, sustained on-shore, multinational cooperation and engagement for the 
protection of the country and its people along with response to the country's 
need in times of natural disaster.
This bill seeks to establish the PMC as an autonomous and distinct branch 
of service that is complementary to the Army, Air Force, and Navy under the 
AFP. This bill also seeks to institutionalize the PMC as an amphibious armed 
uniform service and a maneuver force in readiness of the AFP that among others 
include seaborne, land, combat, and support services.
In view foregoing, the passage of this measure is earnestly sought.
MARIA LOURDES N A N ^S . BINAY 
Senator


EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
) 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
)
First Regular Session 
)
SENATE
S.B. NO. 989
• 
>®[Iicr of tl)f
*19 
AUG 28 P6 22
-Bsat-./fiS,
Introduced by Senator Maria Lourdes Nancy S. Binay
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AN ACT
ESTABLISHING THE PHILIPPINE MARINE CORPS, DEFINING ITS 
POWERS AND FUNCTIONS, APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR, AND 
FOR OTHER PURPOSES
Be it enacted by the Senate and House o f Representatives o f the Phiiippines in 
Congress assembled:
Section 1. Short Title. -  This Act shall be known as the "Philippine Marine 
Corps Act'.
Sec. 2. Declaration o f Policy. -  In accordance with Section 3, Article II of 
the Constitution that mandates the supremacy of civilian authority over the 
military, and Section 4, Article XVI of the same that provides "the Armed Forces 
of the Philippines ("AFP") shall be composed of a citizen armed force that shall 
undergo military training and serve, as may be provided by law", it is hereby 
declared the policy of the State to maintain, organize, and enhance the AFP for 
the continuing development of national defense to maintain peace and order.
Sec. 3. Establishment -  The Philippine Marine Corps, C'PMC"), is hereby 
established as an armed uniformed service, amphibious in character; distinct, 
autonomous, but complementary to the Army, the Air Force and the Navy, as an 
independent branch of service of the AFP.


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The PMC shall include ground combat, combat support, combat service support, 
aviation component, and such other units as may be necessary for the pursuit of 
its mandate.
Sec. 4. Powers and Functions. -  The PMC shall have the following powers 
and functions:
(a) To conduct combined arms operations in the littoral battle space 
and beyond under the AFP;
(b) To coordinate with the other branches of service in developing 
various phases of amphibious operations, which pertain to the 
tactics, techniques, and procedures with the necessary equipment 
employed by landing forces and that of a joint maneuver force;
(c) 
To organize, train, equip, 
maintain, develop, deploy, and 
supervise the PMC Reserve Force ("PMCRF") for the purpose of 
assisting the PMC in carrying out its functions;
(d) To formulate and develop doctrines, concepts, systems, policies, 
procedures, strategies, tactics, and techniques for operations 
peculiar to the Marines;
(e) To develop its capabilities for seaborne maneuvers; sustain 
maneuver ashore; and multinational cooperation and engagement 
that is amphibious in character, multi-role in nature, a seaborne 
arms force with on-shore defense capability possessing combined 
arms with supporting air components ensuring its capability and 
effectiveness as a major combatant in the protection of the 
islands of the Philippine Archipelago;
(f) 
To establish bases and facilities for the realization of its 
operational potential;
(g) To utilize Information Technology, and technological innovations 
to advance the pursuit of its mandate;
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(h) To deploy such forces necessary for strategic defense under the 
Joint 
Defense 
Force 
and 
for 
employment 
of operational 
commands;
(i) 
To deploy forces for disaster response, relief, and rehabilitation 
efforts of the AFP;
(j) 
To deploy forces in support to the law enforcement agencies in 
the 
performance 
of 
their 
duties 
and 
responsibilities 
in 
implementing the laws of the land;
(k) To perform such other functions that may be necessary in the 
attainment of the objectives of this Act; and
(l) 
To determine its requirements which shall be addressed by a 
fiscal allocation and modernization efforts of the Department of 
National Defense ("DND").
Sec. 5. Philippine Marine Corps Bases and Facilities. -  To carry out the 
powers and functions of the PMC and the enhancement of its capabilities, three 
(3) PMC Headquarters, shall be established -  one (1) in Luzon, one (1) in 
Visayas, and (1) in Mindanao. The PMC Headquarters in Mindanao shall serve as 
the National Headquarters of the PMC. All of the PMC Headquarters shall be in 
strategic locations where it can sustain its deployed forces given both spectrums 
of war condition. A Marine Division may be established to effectively respond to 
the needs of the operational commands based on its distinct characteristics and 
operating concept, as may deem necessary.
Sec. 6. PMC Commandant -  The Commandant shall head the PMC, and 
shall carry the rank of Lieutenant General. The Commandant shall be directly 
appointed by the President from among its Marine Corps General, upon the 
recommendation of the AFP Chief-of-Staff and the Secretary of the DND.


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Sec. 7. Creation o f the Marine Reserve Component -  The PMC shall 
maintain, supervise, develop and train the PMC Reservists as a reserve force 
under the direct control and supervision of the PMC Commandant and shall assist 
the PMC in the conduct of efforts on force development as a whole.
Sec. 8. Impiementing Ruies and Reguiations. -  The Commandant of the 
PMC shall promulgate rules and regulations for the implementation of this Act, as 
well as the provisions of acts, decrees, and orders, related to the implementation 
of the PMC functions, to be approved by the President and the Commander-in- 
Chief, with the conformity of the Secretary of DND, and recommendation by the 
Chief-of-Staff of the AFP.
Sec. 9. Appropriations. -  The PMC Commandant shall immediately prepare 
the necessary guidelines to cover the establishment of the PMC as a service 
branch of the AFP, the initial funding of which shall be charged against the 
current year's appropriations of the PMC and, thereafter, in the Annual General 
Appropriations Act.
Sec. 10. Transitory Provisions. -  The incumbent two-star officer. Major 
General, shall be the Acting PMC Commandant, pending the appointment by the 
President. Likewise, the existing organizational structure of the PMC shall be 
followed until new rules and regulations have been promulgated, and approved 
by the President.
Further, this Act shall not diminish, reduce, or remove the existing benefits and 
privileges of PMC personnel under existing laws, rules and regulations.
Sec. 11. Separabiiity Ciause. -  If for any reason, any provision of this Act 
is declared unconstitutional or invalid; such parts not affected thereby shall 
remain in full force and effect.


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Sec. 12. Repealing Clause. -  All laws, decrees, executive orders, rules and 
regulations and other issuance's or parts thereof which are inconsistent with this 
Act are hereby repealed, amended or modified accordingly.
Sec. 13. Effectivity Clause. -  This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days 
after its publication in the Official Gazette or in any two (2) newspapers of 
general circulation.
Approved,