MANILA, Philippines -- People's Champ and Sarangani Representative Manny Pacquiao formally took the rank of Lieutenant Colonel in ceremonies Monday at the Philippine Army headquarters in Fort Bonifacio.
The Philippine Army gave Pacquiao a donning of rank ceremony to "publicly recognize the qualifications of personnel promoted to the next higher grade, and of individuals appointed to join the premiere military organization in the country," it said in a statement.
The ceremonies was also in honor of Pacquiao's recent win against Juan Manuel Marquez.
Pacquiao was appointed to the rank of Lt. Col. last September 21 by President Benigno Aquino III.
Major Harold M Cabunoc, Army spokesperson, maintained Pacquiao's appointment to the Lt. Col. rank was legitimate.
“His commissionship was based on the provisions of Section 44 of Republic Act 7077 which provides that ‘elected officials and presidential appointees may be commissioned into the Reserve Force subject to the existing AFP rules and regulations,'†he said.
The Army said that Pacquiao also "applied" to the Lt. Col. rank last June 27. The Filipino boxer is qualified under paragraph 5b, Group VI of Circular Number 4,
A GHQ AFP memorandum dated July 5, 2010 said a congressman may be granted a rank of lieutenant colonel in the reserve force.
Prior to being appointed to the Lt. Col. rank, Pacquiao held the rank of Senior Master Sergeant and was also designated as the Command Sergeant Major of the 15th Ready Reserve Division.
Pacquiao can only be appointed to Colonel rank based on the following requirements: that he be an elected official or completed an MNSA program; finished Command and General Staff Course or completed MNSA program; qualified pursuant to Circular Number 4 of the AFP; and shall be confirmed by Congress.
http://www.interaksyon.com/article/18854/pacquiao-now-officially-a-lieutenant-colonel
