REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
) 
First Regular Session 
1 
.- 
Introduced by SENATOR LUlSA "LOI" P. EJERCITO ESTRADA 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
As the link between the officers corps and the enlisted personnel, the Armed Forces 
of the Philippines (AFP) Sergeant Major is the most important adviser of the Chief of Staff 
on matters of discipline and morale of the troops. 
There is a need to make him distinct for him to gain respect as well as to dignify his 
role as the model of morale and discipline. To achieve this, he must have a igher pay, 
grade, and rank than the other Sergeant Majors of the service commands of the AFP. This 
will thus ensure that his authority and responsibility are distinct and that a commensurate 
privilege is bestowed upon his position. 
I 
In essence, this bill seeks to create the rank of First Chief Master SergeanVFirst 
Master Chief Petty Officer (E-IO) for the enlisted personnel with the highest rank both in 
position and grade which shall be held by the AFP Command Sergeant Major, 
Moreover, and perhaps as important, this bill will rationalize the pay grade of both 
the officers corps and the enlisted personnel because, while the officers have ten pay 
grades br ranks from Second LieutenanVEnsign (0-1) to GeneraVAdmiral (0-IO), the enlisted 
personnel only has nine from Private (E-I) to Chief Master SergeanVMaster Chief Petty 
Officer (E-9). This bill will translate to an equal number of ranks to which a soldier may 
aspire for promotion. 
In view of the foregoing, the passage of this bill is earnestly sought, 
< 
LUlSA "LOI" 
Senator 


THIRTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
) 
First Regular Session 
) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHlLlPPlNES 
) 
- 
L" 
S E N A T E  
S .B. No. 
5 
Introduced by SENATOR LUlSA "LOI" P. EJERClTO ESTRADA 
.. .- . 
._._ 
~ 
AN ACT 
CREATING THE RANK OF FIRST CHIEF MASTER SERGEANTlFIRST MASTER CHIEF 
PETTY OFFICER IN THE ENLISTED RANKS OF THE ARMED FORCES OF THE 
PHILIPPINES (AFP), 
APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR, 
AND 
FOR OTHER 
PURPOSES 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress 
assembled: 
SECTION 1. Declaration of Policy. - It is the policy of the State to c ntinuously 
.
.
 
develop a professional Armed .Forces. 
In pursuit 'thereof, career develo i 
ment and 
promotion systems shall be established to insure a career progression of all personnel of 
the Armed Forces of the Philippines and to provide them with appropriate career 
motivations. 
SEC. 2. Creation and Distribution of New Rank. -The grade of First Chief Master 
SergeanVFirst Master Chief Petty Officer (E-IO) is hereby created as a component part of the 
non-commissioned grades of the Armed Forces of the Philippines and which shall be held 
by the AFP Command Sergeant Major. 
SEC. 3. Selection of AFP Command Sergeant Major. -The AFP Command Sergeant 
Major shall be selected from among the Chief Master SergeantdMaster Chief Petty Officers 
under such rules and regulations that the Chief of Staff, AFP, may prescribe: Provided, that 
unless sooner terminated by the Chief of Staff, AFP, the AFP Command Sergeant Major 
shall serve for a maximum term of three (3) years. 
SEC, 4. 
Compensation. - A First Chief Master SergeanVFirst Master Chief Petty 
Officer shall receive a monthly base pay equivalent to the monthly base pay of a Chief 
Master SergeanVMaster Chief Petty Officer plus one-half (1/2) of the difference between the 


monthly base pays of a Second LieutenanVEnsign (0-1) and a Chief Master SergeantlMaster 
Chief Petty Officer (E-9). The computation of his other allowances shall also be based on 
the same scheme. 
SEC. 5. Retirement and Separation. -The enlisted personnel who attains the rank 
of First Chief Master SergeanVFirst Master Chief Petty Officer shall, upon retirement, be 
entitled to the retirement pay and benefits of a First LieutenanVLieutenant junior Grade (0- 
2); Provided, That he may opt to receive a monthly retirement pay, in lieu of gratuity, the 
computation of which shall be based on the same scheme; Provided, furthermore, That 
upon his retirement, he shall be entitled at this option to receive in advance his lump sum 
annual retirement pay payable in equal monthly installments as they accrue; Provided 
finally, That if he dies within the three-year period following his retirement and is survived 
by beneficiaries as defined in Presidential Decree No. 1638, the latter shall only receive 
the derivative benefiKthereunder starting the first month after the aforecited three-year 
period. ' 
Nothing in this Section shall be construed as authorizing adjustment of pay, or 
payment of any differential in retirement pay to officers and enlisted men who are already 
retired prior to the approval of this Act as a result of increases in salary of those in the 
active service; Provided, That retirees who are recalled to active duty 
retirement pension adjusted based on the rank they hold and on the 
military personnel in the active service, at the term of the termination 
active duty. 
SEC. 6. Appropriations. - The amount necessary for the effective implementation of 
this Act shall be charged to the appropriations of the Department of National Defense 
under the current General Appropriations Act. Thereafter, such sum as may be necessary 
for its continued implementation shall be included in the annual General Appropriations 
Act. 
SEC. 7. Implementing Rules and Regulations. -The Secretary of National Defense 
shall, within ninety (90) days after the approval of this Act, promulgate the necessary rules 
and regulations for the effective implementation of this Act. 
SEC. 8. Separability Clause. - If any section or provision of this Act is held 
unconstitutional or invalid, the other sections or provisions shall not be affected. 


SEC. 9. Repealing Clause..- All laws, regulations, orders, circulars.and r. 
inconsistent with this Act are hereby repealed or modified accordingly. 
SEC. 10. Effectivity. -This Act shall take effect fifteen (1 5) days upon approval. 
Approved,