MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Defense is opposed to a House proposal to separate the Philippine Marines from its mother unit, the Philippine Navy. According to Lorenzana, the Army could easily learn the Marines' skills such as ship-to-shore operations. Marines envisioned as a small forceThe Defense chief also stressed that the Philippine Marines was designed to pursue pirates and smugglers. In short, the Philippine Marines was created as an adjunct of the Philippine Navy and it was envisioned as a small force only," Lorenzana said. Upon filing the proposal to separate the marines from the navy, Alvarez and Fariñas pointed out that the Marines' lack of charter had caused "institutional challenges, including but not limited to fiscal and organizational restrictions."

Source: Philippine Star March 21, 2018 12:19 UTC