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Celebrity reservists drum up support for 1st presidential drill

By Christine Cudis

November 27, 2019, 4:11 pm

<p><strong>CELEBRITY RESERVISTS</strong>. Army Reservists 2nd Lt. Matteo Guidicelli, Capt. Robin Padilla, and Navy reservist Petty Officer 3rd Class Rocco Nacino express support for the first presidential drill competition on Dec. 5, 2019. The three have recently joined the force and backs President Rodrigo Duterte's call to support the bill that proposes to make ROTC mandatory among students again.<em> (File photo and Instagram photo)</em></p>

CELEBRITY RESERVISTS. Army Reservists 2nd Lt. Matteo Guidicelli, Capt. Robin Padilla, and Navy reservist Petty Officer 3rd Class Rocco Nacino express support for the first presidential drill competition on Dec. 5, 2019. The three have recently joined the force and backs President Rodrigo Duterte's call to support the bill that proposes to make ROTC mandatory among students again. (File photo and Instagram photo)

MANILA -- Excited for the first-ever presidential silent drill competition in the country, some celebrity reservists expressed their support and urged the public to witness the event on Dec. 5, 2019.

Reservists 2nd Lt. Matteo Guidicelli (Army) and Petty Officer 3rd Class Rocco Nacino (Navy), through a video, invited people to watch the seven best-performing service academies in the country.

The activity will start at 9 a.m. at the Quirino Grandstand in Manila.

It will feature the silent drill competition from among the best in the Philippine Military Academy (PMA), Philippine National Police Academy (PNPA), Philippine Merchant Marine Academy (PMMA), Maritime Academy of Asia and the Pacific (MAAP), Philippine Army Officer Candidate School (PAOCS), Philippine Navy Officer Candidate School (PNOCS), and Philippine Air Force Officer Candidate School (PAFOCS).

“Be amazed as you watch the inter-academy silent drill competition. I hope you all can support our Mandatory ROTC Program dahil mag-eenjoy talaga kayo jan (you will surely have fun),” Nacino said in the video.

Nacino took an oath on November 24 at the BTC Hall of Bonifacio Naval Station as shared on his social media account.

“PO3 Enrico Raphael Q. Nacino, PN(Res), reporting for duty! Para sa inyo ito (This is for you), Col. Eleuterio R. Quiogue and Nanay in heaven, and to my loving parents who cleared their schedules to pin my rank on me,” he said on his social media post.

Army Reservist Capt. Robin Padilla, on the other hand, said the youth may get discipline from the Reserve Officers Training Corps (ROTC).

Tandaan ninyo mga mahal kong kabataan, disiplina ang kailangan ng inang bayang Pilipinas. Sa ngayon ang bayan ay nangangailangan ng kabataang alam kung ano ang gagawin sa oras ng hindi lamang ng giyera ngunit sa panahon ng kalamidad (To the youth, remember that Philippines is in need of young people with discipline. The nation needs young people who knows what to do in times of disaster and war),” he said.

The first presidential silent drill competition is the highlight of the ROTC Summit that will be attended by around 2,500 men and women in uniform including ROTC cadets from various universities and colleges.

Following the directive of President Rodrigo Duterte, the Office of the President through the Presidential Management Staff (PMS) and Presidential Security Group, in coordination with the Department of National Defense and the AFP through the Office of the Reservist and Retiree Affairs (OJ9) organize the event.

The units are vying for the top prize of PHP300,000; the second placer will receive PHP200,000, and the third will get PHP100,000.

A PHP50,000 consolation prize will be given for each of the four other units. (PNA)

 

 

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