QuestionsQuestions (Republic Act No. 7077)
RA 7077 is titled the “Citizen Armed Forces of the Philippines Reservist Act.” It provides for the development, administration, organization, training, maintenance, and utilization of the AFP Reserve Force (Citizen Armed Force Reservists).
The State maintains a regular military force consonant to its needs in peace but capable of rapid expansion by a well-disciplined Citizen Armed Force in the event of war, invasion, or rebellion.
The mission includes: (1) providing the base for expansion of the AFP in war, invasion, or rebellion; (2) assisting in relief and rescue during disasters; (3) assisting in socioeconomic development; and (4) assisting in operation and maintenance of essential government/private utilities to further overall mission.
They are: (1) Army Reserve Component; (2) Air Force Reserve Component; (3) Navy Reserve Component; (4) AFP-Wide Technical Reserve Component; and (5) Affiliated Reserves.
Citizen soldiers are AFP reservists incorporated into the Reserve Force, including: (1) ROTC graduates with orders; (2) graduates of authorized basic military training with orders; (3) honorably discharged/retires ex-servicemen and retired officers who are Filipino citizens; (4) recognized World War II guerrillas; (5) certain commissioned/NCOs under Affiliated Reserves and NDCP graduates; and (6) those commissioned or enlisted under existing laws including those procured under project 36-70 and later commissions/enlistments.
First Category: 18 to 35 years inclusive; Second Category: 36 to 51 years inclusive; Third Category: above 51 years.
Ready Reserve: mostly First Category, organized and maintained as mobilizable and can be called even for local emergencies; First Category reservists (except exempted) are required to serve with Ready Reserve until transferred to Standby Reserve by age. Standby Reserve: mostly Second/Third Category, organized and maintained through annual assembly tests; may be mobilized/ordered to active duty only in national emergency or war. Retired Reserve: qualified for retirement (retirement age considered 65), but may be ordered to active duty in local/national emergencies if he volunteers and if the Secretary of National Defense determines insufficient qualified citizen soldiers in his area.
Examples: (1) Active members of AFP and members of the PNP; (2) those residing abroad during the duration of absence from the Philippines; (3) those physically/mentally unfit; (4) those convicted of crimes involving moral turpitude; and (5) those exempted for valid reasons authorized case-by-case by competent authority (with AFP guidelines).
All male citizens between ages 18 and 25 who are not reservists must register. Registration is in suitable places prescribed by the city/municipality between April 1 and April 7, commencing one year after effectivity, and biennially thereafter during the same period.
For instance: (1) members of the clergy of any religious order/sect (except if they volunteer); (2) those in active service of AFP or PNP; (3) superintendent/uniformed members of National Penitentiary/corrective institutions/insane asylums; (4) licensed air and maritime pilots, navigators, and merchant marine officers.
It selects registrants for compulsory military training via drawing of lots. In provinces: Division Superintendent of Schools (Chairman), Provincial Fiscal, and the appropriate military commander designated by the Secretary of National Defense. In chartered cities: City Superintendent of Schools (Chairman), City Fiscal, Chief of Police, and an additional member as specified (e.g., the Chief of Police is included among members).
They are selected in May every year by drawing of lots by a board of canvassers, using quotas provided by the Secretary of National Defense to provincial governors and city mayors broken down into municipal quotas.
It examines and classifies registrants who were selected, determines fitness for training, and passes upon applications for deferment. In chartered cities it is chaired by the Local Civil Registrar with members such as City Health Officer, Chief of Police, and a civic leader chosen by local civic organizations; in municipalities, it is chaired by the Local Civil Registrar/Municipal Treasurer with City/municipal health officer, chief of police, and a civic leader.
Class A (Fit for unlimited service), Class B (Fit for limited service only), Class C (Deferred until later date), and Class D (Exempted for mental/physical reasons).
Full mobilization: by joint act of Congress and the President; activates all Ready and Standby units; calls reservists to active duty. Partial mobilization: by joint act of Congress and the President; activates only necessary Ready Reserve units; President specifies units. Selective mobilization: by authority of the President; activates only selected Ready Reserve units of involved localities or organizes active auxiliary units using volunteer reservists for local threats, under rules by the Secretary of National Defense.
They receive all pay, allowances, medical care, hospitalization and other privileges/benefits prescribed by law or regulations for officers and enlisted personnel of the regular force.
Failure to respond is punishable under the Articles of War; those convicted by court martial face imprisonment from not less than 2 months to not more than 12 months. Those who fail to register, or who fail to report after being notified, upon civil court conviction face imprisonment of not less than 1 month to not more than 3 months.