GENERAL SANTOS CITY, Philippines —An aide of Manny Pacquiao took a swipe, on Saturday, at those who criticized the boxing icon’s appointment as lieutenant colonel in the Army’s Reserve Force.
“Love of country is shown by the willingness to serve and protect the people, not by possession of intellectual arrogance,” lawyer Franklin Gacal Jr., Pacquiao’s congressional chief of staff, said.
Gacal said the critics have forgotten the fact that the appointment was not actually a promotion for Pacquiao, who was previously a sergeant, but was prompted by the provisions of Republic Act 7077, which stated that elected and appointed officials could be commissioned into the Reserved Force based on existing military rules and regulations.
Also, under the Armed Forces of the Philippines’ circular issued on July 5, 2010, a congressman could be granted a rank of lieutenant colonel in the Reserved Force, he said.
“It is not promotion, technically,” Gacal said in a text message to the Inquirer.
Clarita Carlos, former president of the National Defense College of the Philippines, said Pacquiao should not have been appointed lieutenant colonel because he was not a college graduate.
She said the pugilist was not qualified to be appointed as such because of lack of a degree.
Other critics said they were wondering what would happen if Pacquiao was given the task of a battalion commander. Others were more blunt – it would be a disaster to trust soldiers’ lives in the hands of Pacquiao.
“They look down on him because he came from a poor family and he has not finished a college degree,” Gacal said.
He said while Pacquiao would stay and fight for the country in times of war, his critics might not.
“I doubt if they would stay here. They might fly out of the country. But (Pacquiao), I’m sure, will stay here and fight for his country,” Gacal said.