THERE is a need for the House of Representatives to establish a Philippine Marine Corps as another independent service under the Armed Forces of the Philippines to strengthen its mandate of eliminating the enemies of the State, according to Magdalo Rep. Gary Alejano.
House Bill No. 7304 or the “Philippine Marine Corps Act” authored by Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez, and House majority floor leader and Ilocos Norte Rep. Rodolfo Fariñas, seeks to create “the PMC as a branch of service, distinct, autonomous, but complimentary to the Philippine Army, Philippine Air Force and the Philippine Navy under the AFP.”
“The Marines has done so much already with so little resources. They could do more given the chance to operate as a distinct AFP branch of service,” Alejano said.
Alejano said his office is currently working on a measure that would reorganize the AFP and Department of National Defense to include the formal establishment of the Philippine Marine Corps as an independent branch of service.
“Being a former Marine officer myself, I recognize the distinct need of the Marine Corps from that of the Navy. The Marines is a highly mobile amphibious force which can be readily deployed anywhere in the archipelago,” he said.
“The Philippine Navy provides a platform on which the Marines could be projected from sea to land. The fleet and the Marines should have intertwined operations. However, it is a must that the latter be granted fiscal autonomy to allow them to chart its future,” he said.