Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City, Metro Manila

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

House Bill No._ 6735

Introduced by Representatives Ria Christina G. Farias
and Rudys Caesar G. Farifias |

EXPLANATORY NOTE

The Philippine Marine Corps ("PMC") was created through the Armed Forces of
the Philippines ("AFP") General Orders nr. 319 s. 1950 issued by then Secretary of Defense
Ramon Magsaysay to respond to the security threat of the emerging Hukbalahap
insurgency in the mountains and plains of Central Luzon up to the present IsIS-inspired
revolution right in the heartland of Marawi, Mindanao.

Although the PMC has lived up to its mandate, its lack of Charter has caused
institutional challenges, including but not limited to fiscal and organizational restrictions.
Despite these, the PMC has provided seamless transition of military power between sea
and land domains.

‘The men and women of the PMC have served and responded to the call of duty
gallantly. During the 1960s, the PMC spearheaded the conduct of strategic maneuvers
‘against the Hukbalahap. In the 80s, they were the force that upheld the stabllity of the
country during EDSA people power. In the 90s, the lawlessness of terrorist groups down
South was curtailed by the PMC. In the 2000s, they were one of the main players in the
fall of Camp Abu Bakr. On the same decade, they were the force combating terrorists in
Basilan, Sulu, and Tawi-Tawi. During the 2010s, a decade known for natural disasters, the
vigorous men and women of the PMC are everywhere to alleviate the impact of disasters
to the Filipino people.

Much blood has been spilled, lessons leamed and experience gained in the
service of the Filipino people with the loss of 1,437 men since 1950. In the 2017 Battle of
Marawi alone, 36 brave souls gave their lives for the motherland. These men and women
might be few but they remain proud, always faithful in their swom honored duty to
country for the last 67 years.

This bill seeks to establish the PMC as a branch of service, distinct, autonomous,
but complementary to the Army, the Air Force, and the Navy under the AFP. This aims to


institutionalize PMC as an armed uniformed service, amphibious in character, and a
maneuver force in readiness of AFP that includes seaborne, land, combat, and support
services, among others.

The archipelagic nature of the Philippines necessitates the imperative need for an
expanded, rapidly deployable amphibious maneuver force primarily mandated to
conduct seaborne, sustained on-shore, multinational cooperation and engagements for
the protection of its 7,461 islands and islets, the communities and the people therein, as
well as respond to the needs of a nation prone to natural disasters.

This measure is a refiled bill from House Bill No. 7304, authored by former
Representative Rodolfo C. Farifias in the 17" Congress.

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

RIA GPRISTINA/G. FARINAS RUDYS CAESAR G. FARINAS |


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City, Metro Manila

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session
No,8735

House

Introduced by Representatives Ria Christina G. Farifias
and Rudys Caesar G. Farifias |

AN ACT
ESTABLISHING THE PHILIPPINE MARINE CORPS, DEFINING ITS POWERS AND FUNCTIONS,
APPROPRIATUNG 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.

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,
multirole 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 island of the
Philippine Archipelago;

(f) To establish bases and facilities for the realization of its operational potential;

(Q) To utilize Information Technology, and technological innovations to advance the
pursuit of its mandate;

(h) 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;

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

(I) To determine its requirements which shall be addressed by a fiscal allocation and
modemization 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. Alll 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 cary 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.

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
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 the 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 issuances 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 afer its publication
in the Official Gazette or in any two (2) newspapers of general circulation.

Approved,