Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

FIFTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

1099

HOUSE BILL NO.

Introduced by: REPRESENTATIVE PHILIP A. PICHAY

EXPLANATORY NOTE

The Constitution is clear on the role of the military establishment in Philippine
society when it declared thus: “Civilian authority is, at all times, supreme over the
military. The Armed Forces of the Philippines is the protector of the people and the
State. Its goal is to secure the sovereignty of the State and the integrity of the national
territory.” (Section 3, Article II)

Many times over the past this constitutional decree has been repeatedly ignored
by certain sectors in the military. Not a few uniformed men and women, under the
guise of serving the people's interests, launched destabilizing moves subverting the
very democracy they purport to uphold. The latest of this messianic tendency was
manifested in what came to be known as the Oakwood incident of July 27, 2003.

It is ironic that military adventurists come from the ranks of the Philippine
Military Academy (PMA), the top institution tasked to mold officers who will be at the
forefront of our defense against constitutional adversaries. Without in any way
discounting the validity of some concerns aired by them, the fact remains that the
method used is deplorable and counterproductive. Many admit that the “mistah
system” in the PMA is a big contributory factor in emboldening the resolve of these
misguided ranks in the institution.

This bill intends, among others, to lessen, if not eradicate, the baneful effects of
the mistah system in the Philippine military by establishing separate academies that
would shape the men and women who would eventually lead the major services of the
military, without sacrificing the quality of future officers produced.

In view of the urgency and gravity of the evils it seeks to remedy, immediate
approval of this proposed measure is earnestly r

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Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.
Quezon City

FIFTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

1090

HOUSE BILL NO.

Introduced by: REPRESENTATIVE PHILIP A. PICHAY

AN ACT
CREATING TRI-SERVICE ACADEMIES FOR THE MAJOR SERVICES COMMAND OF
THE ARMED FORCES OF THE PHILIPPINES AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREOF

Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines in
Congress assembled:

SECTION 1. Title. This Act shall be known as the “Tri-Service Academies Act*.

SEC. 2. Tri-Service Academies. For the purpose of this Act, the Philippine Army
Military Academy (PAMA), Philippine Air Force Military Academy (PAFMA) and
Philippine Naval Military Academy (PNMA) are hereby created to comply with the
officers needed by the Major Services Command of the Armed Forces of the Philippines
(AFP).

The present Philippine Military Academy (PMA) shall be hereafter known as the
PAMA and shall provide for the military schooling of the Army cadet officers.

SEC. 3. Curriculum. ‘The Tri-Service Academies shall provide a two-year officer
course that shall embody the academic and training needs of the Major Services
Command. The Secretary of National Defense, in consultation with the AFP Chief of
Staff and the Major Service Commanders, shall create a curriculum for this purpose:
Provided, however, That applicants to the Tri-Service Academies shall have finished
a basic two-year college course equivalent to seventy two (72) units: Provided, further,
‘That the applicant is nineteen (19) years of age but not more than twenty one (21) at
the time of his entry at the Academy concerned.

SEC. 4. Implementing Rules. The Secretary of National Defense in consultation
with the Armed Forces of the Philippines Chief of Staff shall formulate the
Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) for this purpose, and shall submit the said
IRR to the Committees on National Defense of both Houses of Congress within one (1)

year from the effectivity of this Act for their concurrence. 5


SEC. 5. Appropriations. The initial amount necessary for this purpose shall be
included in the General Appropriation Act in the succeeding fiscal year from the
effectivity of this Act. Thereafter, all funds needed thereof shall form part of the
regular budget of the Department of National Defense.

SEC. 6. Repealing Clause. All laws, decrees, executive orders and all other
issuances which are inconsistent with this Act are hereby repealed or modified
accordingly.

SEC. 7. Rffectivity. This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its complete
publication in the Official Gazette or in at least two (2) newspapers of general
circulation.

SEC. 8. Transitory Provisions. All cadet soldiers currently enrolled in the PMA
and all officer candidate soldiers undergoing the Officer Candidate Soldier Course in
the Major Services Command, upon effectivity of this Act, shall continue their
prescribed curriculum until they shall have graduated. ‘Thereafter, all aspiring officers
shall be enrolled and graduated from the Tri-Service Academies created under this
Act.

Approved.