First transgender solon in PH joins military

Bataan Representative Geraldine Roman. Photo from DND

Bataan Representative Geraldine Roman, the country’s first transgender congresswoman, took her oath as a reservist officer of Armed Forces of the Philippines on Wednesday morning.

Roman is also the first transgender officer commissioned by the armed forces. Her oath-taking as a reservist of the Philippine Army was administered by Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana at the Department of National Defense (DND) headquarters at Camp Aguinaldo, the DND said in a statement.

The solon applied to the reserve force in February last year.

“War and disaster do not recognize gender, it affects everybody, and everyone must defend and serve our communities, and our country, that is why I am joining the AFP Reserve Force,” Roman was quoted as saying.

Northern Samar Rep. Edwin Marino Ongchuan and Zamboanga del Sur 1st District Rep. Divina Grace Yu also took their oaths as Lieutenant Colonel in the Army’s reserve force.

Other politicians in the AFP reserve include Manny Pacquiao and Loren Legarda. /je