From Military to Civilian: A Survey on Career Ambitions and Opportunities in the Philippine Bureaucracy on Former Military and Police Officers
Noel Sinco
Discipline: Human Resources Management
Abstract:
This descriptive study analyzes the master list of Cabinet
Secretaries` (1987 to 2022) career opportunities as former military
and police uniformed officers. The respondents are former
cabinet secretaries either as officers-in-charge, acting secretaries,
or full-fledged secretaries. The opportunity structures are
investigated throughout the Philippine Bureaucracy using
Ambition Theory as static, reluctant, progressive, and
intrainstitutional ambitions. Out of 32 former officers turned
cabinet secretaries, there are 5 Police Officers and 27 Military
Officials. The Arroyo Administration has appointed the most
PNP/AFP Officers (16) as cabinet secretaries. Former military and
police officers are more contented to remain at the cabinet level;
most of the cabinet secretaries (24) stayed at the cabinet
secretary level as static. Ten (11) cabinet secretaries have
upgraded their civil leadership ladder, with the highest attained
by former President Fidel Ramos, a former Defense Secretary.
Ermita and Ebdane, Jr. are the most reappointed appointees (4
times), averaging 1 to 2. As to the intrainstitutional ambition,
Renato De Villa is the only person who upgraded his party
leadership as the founder and chairman of his political party and
ran as President in the 1998 Presidential Election. Lastly, ten (10)
cabinet secretaries are reluctant in their ambition, and career
opportunities and retired from government service. Three of
them traversed to legislative careers after their last appointive
position. Most Preferred Cabinet Departments are still in the
Defense Department (12), Peace Adviser (6), and National Security
(6) making it still in the Old Professional Phase but other nondefense/law-enforcement related are now being utilized by the
Chief Executives (social welfare, housing, environment).
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