Brawner backs call to tap gun owners as reservists

PALAWAN, Philippines — Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) chief of staff General Romeo Brawner Jr. expressed support for the proposal to tap gun owners as reservists and highlighted the need for more reservists in the country.

Brawner made the remark in reaction to Senators Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa and Mark Villar’s call for responsible gun owners to be ready to defend the country in times of war and conflict.

“I am in support of that because we need to expand our reserve force and we want to make sure that our reserve force is ready to perform any tasking,” Brawner told reporters in an interview in Camp Aguinaldo on Wednesday.

“One of the core competencies of a soldier is that he and she should be adept and competent in the use of a firearm,” he added.

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Brawner noted that the AFP tapped reservists during the Marawi Siege in 2017.

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Back then, Brawner said that only about 50 percent of mobilized reservists knew how to use firearms properly.

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“So if they are shooters and they are already knowledgeable especially on the safety of handling a weapon, they’re all welcome to join the reservists,” he said.