MALACA?ANG on Sunday refused to comment on criticisms against the move of President Benigno Aquino III commissioning boxing champion Manny Pacquiao as a lieutenant colonel in the military?s reserve force.
Deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte said she is not cognizant of the process of the promotion of the pound-for-pound king.
“I’ll defer comment first on this issue because I do not really know a lot about it and the process that’s involved. So let us get guidance first from the Office of the Executive Secretary and the AFP (Armed Forces of the Philippines),? Valte said over government-run Radyo ng Bayan.
Aquino on September 21 authorized the promotion of Pacquiao from a reserve senior master sergeant to a lieutenant colonel. He skipped the ranks of chief master sergeant, second lieutenant, first lieutenant, captain and major.
The promotion was said to be based on the recommendation of the Army recognizing the People’s Champ’s feat in giving pride to the country.
A defense security expert questioned the promotion of Pacquiao to the officer’s rank as the position requires a college degree as stated under Republic Act 7077 or the AFP Reservist Act of 1991.
Despite not finishing college, the Philippine Army noted that they are honoring Pacquiao’s honorary doctorate degree on humanities conferred by the Southwestern University in Cebu in 2009.
But expert Dr. Clarita Carlos said an honorary degree and being a boxing world champion are not enough to be commissioned as an officer of the Philippine Army.
She said the honorary degree of Pacquiao “does not confer skills, knowledge and competencies.”
Acting Army spokesman Major Harold Cabunoc admitted that the rules governing the reservist force are more lenient compared to the active duty or enlisted personnel.
Valte, meanwhile, said there is no reason for the Armed Forces’ rank and file men to be demoralized by Pacquiao’s sudden promotion. ?If it is explained properly by both the Office of the Executive Secretary and the Armed Forces of the Philippines then we see no reason for demoralization to happen.?
Asked if there has been preferential treatment in promoting Pacquiao, Valte remained aloof in answering reiterating that she is not fully aware of the matter.
With the promotion, Pacquiao now holds the same rank as Senator Loren Legarda, former Senator Richard Gordon and Quezon City Mayor Herbert Bautista, all reservist officers of the Philippine Army. (Jill Beltran/Sunnex)
