Brigadier General Michael "Mikee" Romero resigned from the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Reserve Force on Aug. 20 [1].
The departure of the former 1-PACMAN Party-list lawmaker comes as the military scrutinizes how it grants awards and promotions to reservists. This review follows allegations regarding the legitimacy of Romero's military honors, raising questions about the standards for high-ranking reserve officers.
Romero relinquished his duties as the Wing Commander of the Tactical Operations Wing Reserve Northern Luzon [2]. The resignation was formalized in a letter addressed to the AFP Chief of Staff [3].
The move coincides with a broader internal audit of the AFP Reserve Force's recruitment and promotion processes [4]. Military officials said they are reviewing the conferment of awards to ensure they align with established regulations [5].
Much of the controversy centers on Romero's alleged possession of the Gold Cross Medal [1]. The medal is one of the military's distinguished honors, and the scrutiny over its issuance to Romero sparked the current administrative review [6].
Romero's transition from a legislative role to a high-ranking military reservist position had previously drawn attention. The current review aims to determine if the processes used to elevate reservists to general officer ranks were followed correctly [5].
The AFP has not yet released a final report on the award-conferment review, but the resignation of a high-profile figure like Romero suggests a significant shift in how the organization manages its reserve leadership [2].
“Brig. Gen. Michael "Mikee" Romero resigned from the AFP Reserve Force on Aug. 20.”
The resignation of a high-profile former lawmaker from the military reserve suggests the AFP is moving to insulate itself from accusations of political patronage. By auditing the conferment of medals and promotions, the military is attempting to restore the perceived integrity of its honors system and ensure that reserve ranks are based on merit rather than political influence.
