Trillanes wants more troops recruited

From Malaya Business Insight (Jun 26): Trillanes wants more troops recruited

SEN. Antonio Trillanes IV is pushing for a massive recruitment of troops to bolster the Armed Forces in its drive against terrorism in Mindanao and other parts of the country.

Trillanes has filed a bill providing for an increase in the standing force of the AFP through the recruitment and special enlistment of Provisional Enlisted Personnel (PEP).

Under Senate Bill No. 1473, an additional 20,000 PEP will be recruited who shall only serve a tour of duty of 5 years. They will undergo the same training and receive the same salary as that of their equivalent Regular Enlisted Personnel.

After their tour of duty, in cognizance of their contribution, those who will not be reenlisted as regular EP will be entitled to training and educational benefits, and will be given priority in hiring in the Civil Service, particularly in the law enforcement services and related agencies.

“The situation in Mindanao, as well as other security threats, demands a larger force from our military. However, budgetary concerns continue to become a challenge in supporting the pension and retirement needs of the military retirees,” Trillanes said.

“I am pushing for this measure to allow the armed forces to increase and strengthen its standing force while providing a long-term solution to the looming military pension crisis. More importantly, it hopes to address our security needs at this time,” he said.

To resolve the budgetary concern brought about by the current pension system in the military, membership in the Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) will be compulsory for the PEP and the PEP who will be absorbed later in the regular force, thereby creating a new and separate pension system for them to be managed by the GSIS. The current retirees and active personnel of the AFP will retain their old pension system.

http://www.malaya.com.ph/business-news/news/trillanes-wants-more-troops-recruited