Sen. Imee Marcos called on government officials not to distort the law following the Commission on Appointments’ confirmation of five Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) officials on June 17.
In a statement, Marcos clarified that she has no personal objection to the five military officers whose appointments were confirmed by the Commission on Appointments. She said she personally knows some of them and expressed pride that an Ilocano has reached one of the highest positions in the AFP.
However, the senator said her concern is the repeated interpretation of the law in a manner she believes departs from its intended provisions.
Marcos recalled that she had earlier sent a letter to the Commission on Appointments seeking clarification on how it applied the provisions of Republic Act No. 11939 in evaluating the promotions.
Specifically, she asked how the Commission considered the law’s requirement that an AFP officer must have at least one year of remaining active service before being appointed or promoted to certain positions.
According to Marcos, the issue is not about the qualifications of the officers but about ensuring that existing laws are properly followed.
She appealed to government officials not to bend legal provisions, warning that repeatedly doing so could eventually normalize practices that undermine the rule of law.
Marcos said strict compliance with the law is necessary to preserve the integrity of government processes and prevent future violations from becoming accepted practice.
The Commission on Appointments confirmed the appointments of the five AFP officials during its session on June 17.
