36 new lawyers join AFP

From the Philippine News Agency (Aug 6): 36 new lawyers join AFP

Some 36 new lawyers are now undergoing training prior to joining the military service, the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) announced on Sunday.

These individuals joined the AFP following an intensified recruitment campaign that started in March.

“Since the assumption of our Judge Advocate General, Col. Serme Ayuyao last March, the AFP has strengthened the recruitment of eligible lawyers who have the passion to serve in the military service,” AFP public affairs office chief Col. Edgard Arevalo said in a statement.

The 36 lawyers were appointed as Probationary Second Lieutenants (P2LTs) last July 16.

They will be initially deployed to the General Headquarters (GHQ), Army, Air Force, and Navy headquarters for familiarization and internship.

“This batch of new military lawyers came from different regions nationwide; from the Cordilleras to Mindanao. Twenty are females while 12 are males. We expect them to don their uniforms after completing their formal training in October,” Arevalo said.

The new P2LTs are set to undertake their 45-day Technical Administrative Service Military Orientation Course (TASMOC) on Sept. 11.

They will graduate in October to officially join the Judge Advocate General Service.

“The Office of the Judge Advocate General (OTJAG) commits to beef up the number of military lawyers and strengthen the competence of the AFP’s legal services. This is part of our thrust to ensure optimum assistance to AFP’s units and personnel,” Ayuyao said.

“The AFP through OTJAG will see to it that all our members are assured of appropriate legal protection as they perform their mandate,” he added.

Under his stewardship, the OTJAG was able to employ 60 probationary military lawyers since March 2017–a significant increase from last year’s 16 recruits. At present, the AFP has 96 active military lawyers but recruitment is still ongoing for 94 more.

The OTJAG is responsible for resolving all legal issues on real state, personnel, retirement, appointment, separation, demotion, promotion, and procurement within the AFP.

http://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1004936