AFP officers call for transparency in promotion system

From the Daily Tribune (Apr 17): AFP officers call for transparency in promotion system

Concerned officers of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) are urging transparency in the promotion system in the 120,000-strong military organization to stop the malpractice of favoritism and lobbying for juicy positions by some “unprofessional” officials.

The Tribune sources claimed that personal interviews for promotions in the military organization stop when officers are already gunning for 07 positions or one-star posts. Face to face interviews between candidates and the selection board are only held for positions of full-fledge colonels in the Army and Air Force and captains for the Navy.

During the interview processes, one of the sources stressed that a candidate-official will know for himself his weakness, including his place in the seniority and lineal list, compared to others who are also being considered.

“There is secrecy in the deliberation for 07 positions and up, while for colonels down, you are interviewed and informed,” the source claimed.

“Seniority, lineal listing and your specialization and positions previously held are considered right in your face. The board for 07 posts and up, there is no more transparency, you just play by ears,” he added.

The official claimed that deliberations of the Board of Senior Officers and Board of Generals are not transparent.

“Board Senior Officers and Board of Generals deliberations are not open and candidates are not required to face these boards. You don’t even know if your name is included among the candidates,” the officer said.

The official lamented that such practice gives room for officers, less deserving due to their being junior or lacking in credentials compared to others, to lobby for posts.

“These officers start elbowing others and seek padrinos to bag the posts. But if the selection process is transparent, with all of those considered being informed, then the promotion system will be preserved, and not prostituted,” the source said.

Another officer said that service reputation, which is one of the factors in the promotion, has also weakened due to the secrecy in the deliberations.

“The term ‘service reputation’ is based on rumor. The board will not ask you to explain what they heard others say about you. We have the military justice system, particularly the court of inquiry to clear your name (but you will not be asked),” the second source said.

“Besides, seniors should counsel you to improve. We are all human resources who are developed and trained by the state with people’s money,” he stressed.

The Tribune sources have scored favoritism and lobbying in the AFP, citing such malpractice have “prostituted” the promotion system in the military organization.

http://www.tribune.net.ph/index.php/nation/item/12990-afp-officers-call-for-transparency-in-promotion-system