Military wants elected Cebu officials for Reserve Corps

CEBU, Philippines – A massive recruitment of government elected and appointed local officials in Cebu to be made members of the Reserve Corps of the Armed Forces of the Philippines is being made.

This is part of the military's aim to expand the army reservists in Central Visayas.

Col. Raymund Bañares Jr., commander of 701st Community Defense Center, told members of the League of the Municipalities of the Philippines-Cebu Chapter headed by Dumanjug Mayor Nelson Garcia about their move.

Bañares told Garcia, who is also the league's national vice president, to convince his members to be part of the AFP's Reserve Command.

Bañares, as new head of the 701st Community Defense Center, plans to organize a company size of Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Teams (DRRMT) in every municipality in the province in coordination with the Office of the Civil Defense 7 and local chief executives.

Cebu Governor Gwendolyn Garcia has a rank of Lieutenant Colonel and is currently acting battalion commander of the 1st Ready Reserve Battalion-Cebu.

Among the local executives commissioned are Toledo City Mayor Aurelio Espinosa and former Mandaue City mayor now Provincial Board Member Thadeo Ouano, who both hold the rank of major. Former Alcantara mayor Margarito Basilisco is captain while Alcantara Councilor Edgar Erojo is 1Lt.

Bañares added that elected officials and presidential appointees who are reserve officers at the time of their election or appointment shall retain their existing rank but may apply for readjustment of rank.

An applicant must not be less than 21 years old or more than 64 years old at the time of appointment as reserve officer, must pass the physical examination conducted by an authorized hospital and a graduate of any baccalaureate degree. (FREEMAN)