The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) on Friday announced the promotion of three key officials to three-star ranks.
AFP chief Gen. Andres Centino led the donning of ranks ceremony at the AFP headquarters in Camp Aguinaldo, Quezon City on Thursday, military public affairs office chief Col. Jorry Baclor said in a statement.
Promoted to the rank of lieutenant general were Maj. Gen Arthur M. Cordura, AFP vice chief of staff, and Maj. Gen. Efren P. Baluyot, Southern Luzon Command chief.
“Further, Rear Admiral Toribio D. Adaci Jr., the flag officer-in-command of the Philippine Navy, received his third star, having been promoted to the rank of Vice Admiral,” Baclor added.
Centino cited the “excellent performance of their duties” for their promotion.
“It is incumbent upon them to continue serving our institution, our country, and our people, in the best possible ways they can. The three distinguished officers we have the pleasure of honoring today are exactly that—capable, competent, professional military leaders,” he added.
The Department of Budget and Management (DBM) Secretary Amenah F. Pangandaman meanwhile approved a Special Allotment Release Order (SARO) amounting to P14,025,351,666 to the Department of National Defense – Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) to cover the regular pension requirements of military retirees.
The SARO and its corresponding Notice of Cash Allocation (NCA) cover pension requirements from January to March 2023.
Pangandaman said the timely release of funds for the pension requirements of military retirees is one of the government’s initiatives to recognize their critical role in the security and
stability of the country, which remains a priority of the Marcos administration.
“It is our responsibility to make sure that our retirees, as well as their families, always get the benefits entitled to them. Malaking tulong ‘yan sa kanila. Matagal na panahon silang nagsilbi para tulungan at protektahan ang ating bayan. This is the least we can do to show them our sincerest gratitude and respect,” Pangandaman said.
The fund is chargeable against the Pension and Gratuity Fund (PGF) under the 2023 General Appropriations Act (GAA).
AFP payroll records as of December 31, 2022, showed there were 137,649 pensioners covered by the monthly pension requirement for the first quarter of 2023.