MANILA, Philippines (Eagle News) — Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana on Wednesday, March 21 said he opposed the proposal to make the Philippine Marines a separate entity from the Philippine Navy.
“The Philippine Marine Corps is basically a ground force and as such, they are now deployed as an infantry force in Mindanao. Making them a separate service doing the same function as the Army will mean there will be two ground forces in the country,” Lorenzana explained in a statement.
The statement was made after House Bill No. 7304 was filed by House Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez and Rep. Rodolfo Fariñas at the House of Representatives.
Lorenzana said that the Philippine Marines was created in 1950 as a small group to support the Navy to pursue pirates and smugglers.
“It was originally part of the Philippine Naval Patrol, which was the forerunner of the Philippine Fleet. In short, the Philippine Marines was created as an adjunct of the Philippine Navy and it was envisioned as a small force only,” said Lorenzana, a former Army general.