Two senior administration lawmakers urged yesterday President Arroyo to consider setting a fixed term for the chief of the Philippine National Police (PNP) in a bid to insulate him from politics.

Representatives Luis Bersamin (Kampi, Abra) and Amado Espino (Kampi, Pangasinan) aired the proposal after Malacañang said it is amenable to fix the tenure of the chief of staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines as part of the modernization of the armed forces.

Bersamin, a senior member of the House committees on national defense and on public order and security, said a similar move should also be adopted in the PNP, saying recent events have made it imperative for the government to isolate men in uniform from the influence of politics.

"While at it, Malacañang may also consider totally keeping the police out of politicians’ reach by putting an end to the practice of giving local government officials a hand in appointing police chiefs," he said.

According to Bersamin, it has become urgent for the government to review all policies affecting the relationship of the uniformed personnel and the political branches of the government.

He asked President Arroyo to certify as urgent any bill that would support these proposals as amendments to existing laws, including the National Defense Act of 1935.

The Abra lawmaker said he believes that coup d’etats and other forms of military uprising could become things of the past once politicians are kept away from military camps.

On the other hand, Espino, chairman of the Committee on Public Order and Security, said he would strongly recommend a deeper study of the proposal although he believes there is good justification for it.

Aside from the fixed term for AFP commanders, the government likewise supports proposals to allow only the military brass to pass through the Commission on Appointments, Press Secretary Ignacio Bunye said over the weekend.

"The clear trend of policy is to undertake all measures to insulate the military from politics to accord the AFP a permanent seal of professionalism," Bunye said.

These proposals were originally sought by Armed Forces chief of Staff Gen. Generoso Senga as part of amendments to the National Defense Act of 1935.

At present, the law mandates officers with ranks of colonel and above to have their promotions confirmed by the CA.

Military officials have reportedly been protesting the tough grilling they have to undergo at CA confirmation proceedings. The grillings, some claimed, are politically motivated.

Bersamin said the Legislative-Executive department advisory committee should immediately take up the proposals while there is still time for Congress to amend the laws.