From 56 to 60: DILG chief wants new retirement age

MANILA, Philippines — Interior Secretary Eduardo Año wants the retirement age for police and military personnel raised from the current 56 years to 60 years.

In an interview over radio dzBB, Año said the law on the retirement age for uniformed personnel from the Philippine National Police (PNP) and the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) should be amended to allow them to retire at a later age or at 60.

At 56, AFP and PNP officers and personnel are “too young” to retire, especially when considering the relatively short terms of those who were appointed to the highest rank in any of the two services.

Current PNP chief Gen.Camilo Cascolan will only serve about two months or until Nov. 10 following his appointment on Sept. 2.

Año said extending the retirement age would ensure better and more experienced men at the helm of both the PNP and AFP.

“That’s the effect of the law that sets at 56 the retirement age; by the time you find the most senior officer who’s most qualified and mature, his term in service is already nearing its end,” Año said in Filipino. “The solution is – amend the law and extend the term of the chief.”

There are pending bills in Congress that seek to increase the retirement age for military officers.