Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri officially joins the Philippine Army Reserved Force as Lieutenant Colonel on April 8, 2024. Photo from the office of Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri
MANILA, Philippines—Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri on Monday called on Filipinos to join the country’s reserve command forces to prepare for “whatever may happen” to the country.
Zubiri recently donned the rank of Lieutenant Colonel as Philippine Army Reservist following a ceremony at Camp Aguinaldo.
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In his speech during the ceremony, the senator said that while his plans to become a reservist for the Army had been delayed, the current timing for him is right since the Philippines is facing “external forces” that are “creating problems for our country.”
While he did not name the “external force” he was referring to, members of Chinese maritime forces have repeatedly been harassing Filipino troops in resupply missions within the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone.
“I respect that as men and women of the army, you have devoted yourselves entirely to the defense of the nation […] but I also believe that any good patriot, no matter their lot in life, should be ready to fight for the country when called for. And this is a call that I am prepared to answer,” Zubiri said.
He then recited the lyrics to the Philippine national anthem which he said urges Filipinos to live up to the bravery of national heroes.
“Panawagan po ito na isabuhay ang giting at tapang ng ating mga bayani na nagbigay ng kanilang sarili para sa bayan. Wala nang ibang magtatanggol sa ating bayan kundi tayo mismo. Tayo ang maniniguro (na) sa manlulupig, ‘di ka pasisiil,” the senator continued.
(This is a call to embody the courage and bravery of our heroes who sacrificed themselves for the nation. There is no one else who will defend our country but us. We will ensure that the oppressors will not prevail. We will not be conquered.)
“I am calling on our fellow citizens to join our reservist forces of the Philippines, either in the Army, Navy, or Air Force, to be prepared for whatever may happen in our country,” he further said in Filipino.
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According to the Reservist and Retiree Affairs website of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), reserve force’s mission is to provide the “base for the expansion of the Armed Forces of the Philippines in the event of war, invasion or rebellion; to assist in relief and rescue during disaster or calamities; to assist in socioeconomic development; and to assist in the operation and maintenance of essential government or private utilities in the furtherance of the overall mission.”
Reserve forces are divided into five components: the Army Reserve, Air Force Reserve, Navy Reserve, AFP-Wide Technical Reserve, and Affiliated Reserves.