135 Army reservists called to active duty

One hundred thirty five reservists composed of 130 noncommissioned personnel and five officers were called to active service yesterday, July 25.

The reserve troops, among the first to be called since the declaration of martial law in Mindanao, were presented in a handover ceremony to the Charlie Company, 1005th Ready Reserve Infantry Battalion at Camp Edilberto Evangelista, Barangay Patag, this city.

The volunteer reserve soldiers are either products of basic and advanced Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC) training or are former active members of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP).

Captain Joe Patrick Martinez, spokesperson of the Army’s 4th Infantry Division (4ID), , said the reservists will be mostly tasked to man checkpoints or to perform other community activities where the Army has to take part.

“The length of their service depends on their assigned time. It may be until the end of the Martial Law or,if they are still needed, until the rehabilitation of Marawi City,” Martinez explained.

Colonel Bernie Langub, the commander of the Army Reserve Command (ARESCOM), expressed his delight at the official mobilization of the reserve troops.

“For so long we have not made use of the reserve troops and with this we can say that there is indeed willingness to participate in the army,” Langub said.

The function of the reserve troops will cover the entirety of Northern Mindanao.