Senate

FBllice of the Beccetarp

SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE )
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES ) "18 MAR -6 AN 54
Second Regular Session )
SENATE RECE 7 i
$.B.No. 1731

Introduced by Senator SONNY ANGARA
oii

AN ACT
ESTABLISHING THE PHILIPPINE MARINE CORPS, DEFINING ITS POWER AND
FUNCTIONS, APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR, AND FOR OTHER
PURPOSES

EXPLANATORY NOTE

The archipelagic makeup of the Philippines necessitates the need for 2
comprehensive yet rapidly deployable amphibious force primarily mandated to
conduct both seaborne and on-shore tactical operations to protect the country’s
territories, communities, and inhabitants. Duty requires that this group shall be
competent in responding to extraordinary exigencies and developing multinational
cooperation and engagements to preserve peace and order within the country

Under the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) General Orders Nr. 319, s.
4950, the Philippine Marine Corps was initially established to extinguish insurgent
threats in the post-war decade. Beyond successfully accomplishing their missions,
the Philippine Marine Corps remain steadfast to the call of duty being instrumental in
improving the welfare of all Filipinos and protecting the stability of the country

Philippine history is replete with significant campaigns executed by the
Philippine Marine Corps: During the 1960s, the Marines spearheaded the conduct of
strategic maneuvers against the HUKBALAHAP. In the following decade, the
Marines were in most parts of Luzon neutralizing communist-terrorists. While in the
1980s, the group skillfully maintained order despite the country’s political turmoil
The Marines also curtailed the lawlessness of extremist groups in Mindanao from
4990s to 2000s. At present, the Philippine Marine Corps are not only challenged by
growing criminality, but are also tested by worsening natural disasters that harm the
people in the same manner.

The Philippine Marine Corps might be few but they remain proud and always
faithful in their sworn honored duty to the country. While the Constitution mandates
that there be an Army, an Air Force and a Navy in the AFP, the Philippine Marine
Corps, since its establishment, remains an integral part of the nation’s psyche-a
force in readiness.



Despite the lack of a charter, the Philippine Marines Corps has provided
seamless transition of military power between sea and land domains. It is clear that
the Marines will be empowered to further perform their duty with the proper
legislation to provide such mandate.

Hence, this Bill seeks to provide a Charter that would institutionalize the
Philippine Marines Corps-a branch of service distinct, autonomous, and yet
complementary to the Army, Air Force and Navy under the AFP-and, in the process,
generate an initiative to guarantee peace, safety, and order of the entire Philippines

In view of the foregoing, immediate passage of this bill is earnestly sought.

INY ANGARA



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Senate

lice ofthe

SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE ) retary
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES )
Second Regular Session ) 18 WR-6 m1 Sa
SENATE ae
s.B.No. 1731

Introduced by Senator SONNY ANGARA

ee

AN ACT
ESTABLISHING THE PHILIPPINE MARINE CORPS, DEFINING ITS POWER AND
FUNCTIONS, 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. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as the “Philippine Marine
Corps Act’.

SEC. 2. Declaration of Policy. - In accordance with Section 3, Article Il 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, ("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)

(b)

(c)

(4)

(e)

(9)

(h)

(i)

To conduct combined arms operations in the littoral battle space
and beyond under the AFP;

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;

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;

To formulate and develop doctrines, concepts, systems, policies,
procedures, strategies, tactics, and techniques for operations
peculiar to the Marines;

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;

To deploy such forces necessary for strategic defense under the
Joint Defense Force and for employment of operational commands;
To deploy forces for disaster response, relief, and rehabilitation
efforts of the AFP;

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;

To perform such other functions that may be necessary in the
attainment of the objectives of this Act; and



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@ 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
one (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 Generals, upon the
recommendation of the AFP Chief-of-Staff and the Secretary of the DND.

SEC. 7. Creation of 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. Implementing Rules and Regulations. - The Commandant of the
PMC shall promulgate rules and regulations for the implementation of this Act, as
well as the provision 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.



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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 AEP, 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. Separability Clause. — 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.
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. - 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,