Simple Army rites for reservist Lt. Col. Manny Pacquiao

The Philippine Army has opted for simple ceremonies to honor its most celebrated reservist, boxing champ Manny Pacquiao who came off a recent controversial victory against Mexican challenger Juan Manuel Marquez.

The Saranggani congressman will get to don his new rank as a lieutenant colonel in the Army reserve force on Monday at the Army headquarters in Fort Bonifacio.

The ceremonial donning of rank will be held right after the flag-raising ceremony.

Army commanding general Maj. Gen. Emmanuel Bautista, his predecessor retired Lt. Gen. Arturo Ortiz and other Army officials and employees will attend the ceremony.

According to military tradition, the donning of rank insignia is meant to publicly recognize an individual’s appointment or promotion in the Armed Forces of the Philippines.

The AFP and the Department of National Defense has taken pains to defend Pacquiao’s promotion to lieutenant colonel in the Army reserve force which took effect last Sept. 21.

Prior to his commissioning, Pacquiao held the rank of senior master sergeant which was the highest rank given to a military reservist who did not graduate from college.

Officials said they considered the honorary doctorate degree on humanities that the Southwestern University in Cebu City conferred on Pacquiao in 2009.

They said the degree made Pacquiao eligible to hold the rank under Section 44 of Republic Act No. 7077, which provides that elected and appointed officials can be commissioned in the service if they are degree holders.

The Army recommended Pacquiao’s promotion to the rank of lieutenant colonel on June 27 following his victory against Shane Mosley last May 7.

After his victory over Mosley and having ran out of awards to give, the Army honored Pacquiao last May 30 with a testimonial parade which is reserved only for select government and military officials and foreign dignitaries.