Pacquaio mulling to become ‘active’ military officer

Senator Manny Pacquiao said he is contemplating about becoming an “active” officer in the military.

In an interview, following his promotion from Lieutenant Colonel (LC) to full Colonel, Pacquiao expressed readiness to fight for the people and country.

From Lieutenant Colonel to full Colonel. In an interview on Wednesday, March 07, 2018, Senator Manny Pacquiao (second from left) says he is thinking of becoming an “active” officer of the military as he expressed readiness to fight for the people and country. Aside from Pacquiao, the Commission on Appointments approved the promotion of other lawmaker-reservists such as House Majority Leader Rodolfo Fariñas (left), Senator Loren Legarda (second from right), and House Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez (right) on Wednesday. (PHOTO by RYAN LEAGOGO / INQUIRER.net)

“Anytime, at iniisip ko nga na magpa-active,” the neophyte senator told reporters.

Asked where he prefers to be assigned, Pacquiao said: “Kahit saan, kahit dito lang sa Maynila, ok lang.”

He also answered yes when pressed if he was decided to be an active military officer.

On Wednesday, the Commission on Appointments confirmed the promotion of seven lawmaker-reservists, including Pacquiao and Senator Loren Legarda as well as Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez and other leaders and members of the House of Representatives.

Like Pacquiao, Alvarez said he was also ready to be deployed anytime.

“Kahit ngayon pwede na tayong sumalang,” the Speaker said in a separate interview.

In endorsing Legarda’s promotion also to the rank of Colonel of the Philippine Air Force’s reserve unit, Senator Panfilo Lacson described her as a “woman of action – a doer and a mover.”

Lacson also endorsed the promotion of Cavite Rep. Roy Loyola to the rank of Colonel, Philippine Army (Reserve). The senator described Loyola as the “most amazing lady killer” he had seen in his entire life.

“They say it takes a long time to grow an old friend. I dare say that our nominee, Congressman Roy M. Loyola, is one of mine. I have known him from a long way back, perhaps too long, that I have already heard of all his oft-repeated jokes and banters,” Lacson said.

“Between you and me, Mr. Chairman, Congressman Roy has two ways to win the hearts of his friends, relatives and constituents – I am tempted to go further and say ladies. Yes, our nominee is the most amazing lady killer I’ve seen in my whole life, either through his good sense of humor or his mouth-watering binalot or rice and adobo wrapped in banana leaves.”

Turning serious, Lacson said Loyola, a lawyer by profession and a member of the Integrated Bar of the Philippines, has “modestly achieved his calling as a public servant.”                       /kga