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How is the morale of officers?: This was the question asked by Sen. Panfilo “Ping” Lacson to military officers during the hybrid meeting of the Committee on National Defense of the Commission on Appointments (CA) Monday, May 30, 2022. Lacson said he was informed that there were some officers belonging to certain classes that were having morale issues following the enactment of Republic Act 11709 which gave a fixed three-year term to the chief of staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and other top military officials. “I have no doubt that this (RA 11709) will contribute to the accomplishment of the overall mission of the AFP. But there is another concern, which is the welfare of the men, particularly the morale of some officers in the AFP. I would like to get some inputs on the extent morale problem involving certain classes,” Lacson said. Vice Adm. Rommel Reyes, AFP Deputy Chief of Staff admitted that there were some sectors in the officer and enlisted personnel corps who would be affected by the law but the AFP together with the Department of National Defense would try to clarify some ambiguous sections in the RA in crafting the implementing rules and regulations. (Bibo Nueva España/Senate PRIB)