More reserve forces needed: Lorenzana

FILE: With military reserve forces playing a valuable role in the five-month battle to liberate Marawi City from the Maute Group terrorists, it is high time to increase the number of these units, Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana said Monday. (PNA photo)

MANILA — With military reserve forces playing a valuable role in the five-month battle to liberate Marawi City from the Maute Group terrorists, it is high time to increase the number of these units, Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana said Monday.

The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) activated the reserve soldiers to augment regular units involved in the Marawi campaign, Lorenzana said on the sidelines of the celebration of the Department of National Defense’s 78th founding anniversary.

“They served as the overall security in Iligan City, performing such tasks as manning checkpoints and forming visible presence in public places,” he said.

These actions, he said, show the importance of reservists in nation-building.

“Thus, to increase their number, we have crafted a bill to revive the Reserve Officers Training Corps, making it a mandatory program for Grades 11 and 12,” the defense chief said.

“I urge everyone to please help the department in lobbying for the immediate passage of this bill because our AFP needs a stronger and bigger reserve force. We will also request our reservists’ assistance in rehabilitating war-torn Marawi City,” he added.