Pacquiao Promoted in Phillipine Army Reserve

(December 5th) Newly promoted Lt. Colonel, Sarangani Representative and world champion boxer Manny Pacquiao plans to take his reserve officer corps role seriously.

Pacquiao who was promoted by Philippine Army, Commanding General Major General Emmanuel Bautista and Brigadier General Alex Albano becomes the executive officer of the Sarangani 1st Early Reserve Battalion.

Responding to his promotion the eight division world champion stated "I want to take my role and responsibility to higher ground, to compensate for the discomfort I probably caused the Philippine Army family when some personalities questioned my commissionship as lieutenant colonel. Obviously, I am not trained for military operations, but it should be emphasized that reservists, by their true nature, are civilian provisional first and military personnel second."

Pacquiai’s new position is non combat forces in charge of relief operations and disaster management.

Pacquiao qualified for the rank of lieutenant colonel last September moving up from the non commission officer rank of master sergeant.

Pacquiao’s promotion was challenged but Maj. Gen. Bautista defended Pacquiao's new rank, citing the provisions of Section 44 of Republic Act 7077, which provides that elected officials and presidential appointees may be commissioned into the Reserve Force.

Pacquiao said his plans are "to win my few more fights and bring honor to our country and
should you need legislative support, my congressman's office will be there to help you."