Former Deputy Speaker and sportsman Mikee Romero was among the 39 senior officers of the Armed Forces of the Philippines whose promotions were officially confirmed by the Commission on Appointments on Monday.
Romero, who served three terms as the 1Pacman representative in Congress, was promoted to full colonel in the Philippine Air Force Reserve.
This development is expected to strengthen the Association of Reservists and Reservist Administrators of the Philippines, giving the organization more capacity to pursue its missions in communities across the country.
As chair of ARRAPI, Romero has actively supported the AFP in various initiatives, the latest being the Last Mile Medical Health Donation project in Tawi-Tawi.
A driving force in enhancing the reservist corps as a strategic component of national defense, Romero has helped grow ARRAPI to over 5,000 members nationwide, all prepared to assist in disaster response and humanitarian efforts.
Yet, as a true sportsman, Romero also aims to bring joy to even the most isolated communities by donating sports equipment and organizing several sports events in the near future.
“That will be part of my mission. Sports can unite the nation because of the joy and thrill it can bring,” Romero said. “After civil-military operations, we can introduce sports and give disaster victims little enjoyment.”
Among Romero’s notable accomplishments in Congress was his role as the primary proponent of legislation that enabled Ginebra resident import Justin Brownlee to acquire Filipino citizenship two years ago.
A world-ranked polo player, Romero has also championed the AFP Modernization Program and supported key air mobility acquisitions, including the procurement of three C-130J aircraft.
