THE days that followed the Commission on Appointments’ confirmation of the ad interim promotion of Air Force Reservist Michael Odylon Romero to brigadier general were humiliating. He was severely criticized for adorning his uniform with more military medals and badges than Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Chief of Staff Gen. Antonio Nafarrete. The public is questioning how he was able to earn numerous military awards and decorations after being enlisted in the Philippine Air Force Reserve only in 2020, while Nafarrete was commissioned 20 years earlier.
Netizens commenting on the matter, mostly retired military personnel, minced no words in rebuking Romero and challenging his eligibility to be bestowed the third-highest combat award — the Gold Cross Medal — which can only be earned for gallantry in action in actual armed operations. They also questioned Romero’s meteoric rise from being enlisted as Airman Second Class (Private First Class in infantry rank) in 2020 to brigadier general on Aug. 14, 2026.
The issue quickly became a controversy that placed not only AFP regulations and processes in bestowing awards, decorations and promotions in the rank of reservists in question, but also the integrity of the organization.
In his defense, Romero said all his medals and badges were properly documented in the military’s official records. He maintained that these were voluntarily given, and he did not ask for any of them — exactly the way I surmised in my previous column.
The AFP was inevitably drawn into the controversy by that statement, prompting it to announce a thorough “review” of its existing policies and regulations. It carries with it the declaration that it will look at “oversights” in the implementation. That if penalties are warranted for those who erred — inadvertently or not — it will impose the same in accordance with the Articles of War and other relevant military regulations.
Fallout from the controversy
Perhaps feeling that the integrity issue with his military awards is not in his best interest, or that even a reissue of his selection as Man of the Year 2026 by Rising Tigers Magazine cannot silence his critics, or maybe to save the AFP from the controversy, Romero “retired.” He likewise “relinquished” his duties and responsibilities as commander of the Tactical Operations Wing Reserve Northern Luzon effective Aug. 19, 2026.
The simple photo-op of a beaming Romero with the AFP chief celebrating the confirmations of their respective ranks ended in an expected twist — proof that Murphy’s law has not been repealed. But this should be seen more as an opportunity than a misfortune.
Setting aside the issue of the medals, badges and promotion, as well as the processes that must be followed before Romero’s resignation — not retirement — as a commissioned reserve officer takes effect, the controversy is not representative of the millions of reservists making up the reserve force component of the AFP. Neither do these issues erase the immense contributions of Romero to the AFP.
The Philippine News Agency (PNA) encapsulates how Romero, along with his fellow legislators, pushed for an over-50-percent increase in the basic pay of military and other uniformed personnel starting in 2018; supported the allocation of some P22 billion in the national budget to fund the acquisition of three C-130J aircraft that bolstered the Air Force’s strategic airlift, humanitarian assistance, and disaster-response capabilities.
PNA has also reported Romero’s participation in more than 60 voluntary missions benefiting more than 20,000 families in geographically isolated and depressed communities around the country, bringing with him “food assistance, medical and dental services, educational support, humanitarian assistance, and disaster response.”
And there are thousands of other reservists doing their share in nation-building in support of the AFP’s mission in their various capacities and expertise. They offer their time, energy and resources — sacrifices often unheralded. Some of them I personally witnessed serving in conflict areas like Marawi.
There were also tycoons who supported the AFP. San Miguel Corp. Chairman Ramon Ang, for one, donated a Hawker 800XP mid-size twinjet corporate aircraft for the use of the AFP and a P330-million livelihood and business startup package (P2 million each) for families of soldiers and police killed in action during the 2017 Marawi siege.
Ang also donated 10 emergency quarantine facilities, donated construction materials, and provided supplies and food provisions for military personnel stationed at checkpoints during the Covid-19 pandemic. But he did not seek any recognition.
Recalibrating standards
But while meritorious acts such as these deserve medals and commendations, these should be sparingly and appropriately awarded. There are appropriate awards for specific acts of courage, achievement, service, efficiency and participation in combat campaigns. And in bestowing awards, the same standards and similar tedious process of deliberations by the AFP Awards and Decorations Boards must be observed for all recommendees, be they regular soldiers or reservists. And if deserved, the award must be promptly and publicly bestowed.
Medals, especially combat awards, are not just pieces of shiny metal pinned on the chest of a wearer. Every piece is earned with a story often laden with scars; drenched in blood, sweat and tears, borne of sacrifices and hardships. Members of the military organization — be they in the active service, have retired, are commissioned or enlisted as a reservist — should zealously treat medals sacred. They are not to be given away or received like items of reward, tokens of appreciation, or keepsakes of gratitude.
While commanders are given the latitude in awarding specialization badges, emblems, or insignias, they must be mindful of the minimum requirements that must be possessed — regardless of duty status.
A swatch of cloth
As a graduating cadet at the Philippine Military Academy in 1990, I was puzzled by a conversation where I asked myself: “What is so special about a piece of cloth”? I now understand Marine Master Sergeant Reynaldo Tugade, one of our noncommissioned tactical officers, why he politely refused to give me a Philippine Marine Corps emblem when I asked one of his. His words still ring in my ear to this very day: “You must first earn it, before you can wear it.” It did not matter that I told him I would be volunteering — as I did — to join the Marine Corps.
That “piece of cloth” — an insignia, tab, or badge, sewn or pinned on every military uniform — serves as a constant reminder of the nobility of the profession. An aide-memoire of how a soldier, airman, sailor or Marine should conduct himself or herself. Because it is not the material the “piece” is made of, but what has been offered in the name of service so that their countrymen can live in peace.
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