Is the Philippine Coast Guard Being Militarized?

Bureaucratic and financial reasons are the real cause of the influx of military troops into the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG).

There are three compelling reasons that forced the PCG to open its gates to the members of the military. The first one is the legal provisions of the Philippine Coast Guard Law of 2009, which defined the hierarchical distribution of the ranks of its officers and the required equivalent ratio to enlisted personnel.

​The second reason is that the ongoing reorganization of the PCG gives high regards to the professional qualifications, specialized skills, and distinctive competencies of its personnel. Lastly, recruiting former and active military personnel with such experience is more cost-effective than recruiting civilians.

Read the complete article