CAMP GEN EMILIO AGUINALDO, Quezon City (DWDD) – Bataan Representative Geraldine Roman, the country’s first transgender congresswoman, took her oath as a Reservist Officer of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) in a ceremony held Wednesday, 14 February 2018, at the Department of National Defense (DND) Hall of Flags, here.
From right: Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana dons the epaulet to Reserve Lieutenant Colonel Geraldine Roman assisted by General Rey Leonardo Guerrero, AFP Chief of Staff and Roman’s mother, Herminia Roman, in a Donning-of-Ranks ceremony on 14 February 2018 at the Department of Defense Building in Camp Aguinaldo, Quezon City. (Photo by PH3 Jayson Rutao/PAOAFP)
Representative Roman donned the rank of Lieutenant Colonel as she officially joined the Philippine Army Reserve Force. Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana administered the donning of ranks and oath-taking ceremony that was also attended by General Rey Leonardo Guerrero, AFP Chief of Staff, and other defense and security officials.
Lieutenant Colonel Roman announced her application to the AFP Reserve Force in February 2017. She also commended and thanked the AFP for allowing individuals from the LGBT (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender) Community to apply for the military.
“War and disaster do not recognize gender, it affects everybody, and everyone must defend and serve our communities, and our country, that is why I am joining the AFP Reserve Force”, Congresswoman Roman said.
The first transgender military officer is also an advocate for the revival of the mandatory Reserved Officers Training Course (ROTC) for grades 11 and 12. She expressed her support for the program during the ROTC Corps Commanders’ Summit and Senior Reservist Commanders’ Conference held on 22 February 2017 in Camp Aguinaldo, Quezon City.
“We in Congress are working to make the ROTC experience a significant, beneficial and meaningful learning experience for those who will join and we will ensure that the value of Patriotism will be inculcated among the youth through this course,” she said.
Two other House Representatives, Congressman Edwin Marino Ongchuan of Northern Samar and Congresswoman Divina Grace Yu of Zamboanga Del Sur’s 1st District also took their oath as Lieutenant Colonel in the Army’s Reserve Force. DND PAS / MCAG
From left: Newly-appointed Lieutenant Colonels Congressman Edwin Marino Ongchuan of Northern Samar, Congresswoman Divina Grace Yu of Zamboanga Del Sur’s 1st District, and Congresswoman Geraldine Roman take oath as Reservist Officers in the Philippine Army in a ceremony presided over by Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana on Wednesday, 14 February at the Department of National Defense.
http://dwdd.com.ph/2018/02/15/ltc-geraldine-roman-first-transgender-solon-joins-afp/
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