HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

2EPRESESS
Republic of the Philippines aN
os wL 2”

SIXTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL NO. 1177

Introduced by: HON. 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 Il)

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 jy seeks to remedy, immediate
approval of this proposed measure is earnestly request

HII

PI

A.

ICHAY

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Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

SIXTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILLNO.___ 1177

Introduced by: HON. 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

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. Effectivity. 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