SENIOR MASTER SGT. PACQUIAO. Manny Pacquiao is feted by the Philippine Army with a testimonial parade at the Hunters ROTC Guerilla Parade Ground at the Army headquarters in Fort Bonifacio Tuesday for his accomplishments in boxing. Pacquiao is a reservist with the rank of Senior Master Sergeant. KATE EVANGELISTA
MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine Army on Friday defended anew the promotion of pound-for-pound king Manny Pacquiao to Lieutenant Colonel.
“His commissionship was based on the provisions of Section 44 of Republic Act 7077 which provides that ‘elected officials and presidential appointees may be commissioned into the Reserve Force subject to the existing AFP rules and regulations’” said Army spokesman Major Harold Cabunoc in a statement.
“I would like to emphasize that this is an appointment to the rank of Lieutenant Colonel and not a promotion as assumed by some people,” Cabunoc added.
The statement came ahead of the formal donning of the Lieutenant Colonel rank on the Sarangani representative set for Monday, December 5. Pacquiao earned the rank of Lieutenant Colonel in the Armed Forces of the Philippines Reserve force on September.
Pacquiao is also qualified, according to paragraph 5b, Group VI of Circular Number 4, General Headquarters AFP dated July 5, 2010 which states that a congressman can be granted a rank of Lieutenant Colonel in the reserve force.
In the same statement, Colonel Quirino S. Calonzo, assistant chief of staff for reservist and retirees affairs, OG9, Philippine Army, said that the donning of rank will be held right after the flag raising ceremony at about 7:30 a.m. on Monday at the Army headquarters in Fort Bonifacio, Taguig City.
“The activity will be done in recognition of the well-deserved appointment of Congressman Pacquiao to his present rank in the reserve force,” said Calonzo in the statement.
Cabunoc said the donning of rank insignia was a tradition of the Army to publicly recognize the qualifications of promoted personnel and of individuals appointed to join the military ranks.
Prior to being appointed as a Lieutenant Colonel, Pacquiao held the rank of Senior Master Sergeant and was also assigned as the Command Sergeant Major of the 15th Ready Reserve Division, Cabunoc said.
He added that Pacquiao applied for his commissionship to Lieutenant Colonel June 27, 2011.
As a newly-appointed Lieutenant Colonel, Pacquiao will also be designated as the Battalion Executive Officer of the 1st Sarangani Ready Reserve Battalion, and will be serving under the command of Colonel Gregorio Warren Manilay, Cabunoc said.
Meanwhile, Pacquiao may be promoted to the next rank of Colonel in the Army Reserve Force if he fulfils the following requirements:
* that he be an elected official or completed an MNSA program;
* finished Command and General Staff Course or completed MNSA program;
* qualified pursuant to Circular Number 4 of the AFP;
* and shall be confirmed by Congress.