CITIZENS ARMED FORCES OF THE PHILIPPINES RESERVIST ACT

Case Overview and Summary

Summary of Republic Act No. 7077 (Citizen Armed Forces of the Philippines Reservist Act):

Declaration of Policy (Sections 2-6):
- Maintain a regular military force that can be rapidly expanded by the Citizen Armed Force in times of war, invasion or rebellion.
- Provide opportunity for the Citizen Armed Force to participate in safeguarding security and assisting in socioeconomic development.
- Ensure readiness of the Citizen Armed Force to respond to the call to service.
- Promote public awareness of the important role of the Citizen Armed Force.
- Conform the manpower objective of the Citizen Armed Force to projected and actual needs.

Mission and Organization of the Citizen Armed Force (Sections 7-10):
- Mission: Provide base for expansion of the Armed Forces in times of war, invasion or rebellion; assist in relief and rescue during disasters; assist in socioeconomic development; assist in operation and maintenance of essential utilities.
- Organized into five components: Army Reserve, Air Force Reserve, Navy Reserve, AFP-Wide Technical Reserve, and Affiliated Reserves.
- Reserve units organized on a provincial or regional basis.
- Affiliated Reserves consist of private and government entities providing essential public services.

Definition of Citizen Soldiers (Section 11):
- Reservists of the Armed Forces incorporated into the Reserve Force, including:
  - Graduates of ROTC basic and advanced courses.
  - Graduates of authorized basic military training.
  - Ex-servicemen and retired officers honorably discharged.
  - Recognized World War II guerillas.
  - Commissioned and noncommissioned officers under Affiliated Reserves.
  - Commissioned, noncommissioned officers and privates under existing laws.

Categorization and Classification of Citizen Soldiers (Sections 12-13):
- Three categories based on age: First Category (18-35 years), Second Category (36-51 years), Third Category (above 51 years).
- Classification: Ready Reserve, Standby Reserve, and Retired Reserve.
  - Ready Reserve: Mobilizable and subject to call at any time, composed mostly of First Category.
  - Standby Reserve: Organized and assigned to units, composed mostly of Second and Third Categories.
  - Retired Reserve: Qualified for retirement through length of service, old age or disability.

Compulsory Military Registration and Training (Sections 14-34):
- All male citizens between 18-25 years who are not reservists are required to register for military instruction.
- Exemptions from compulsory military training include members of clergy, active service members, uniformed members of correctional institutions, licensed pilots and navigators.
- Selection of registrants for compulsory training through drawing of lots by a board of canvassers.
- Acceptance board to examine and classify registrants' fitness for training and deferment applications.
- Grounds for deferment include supporting dependent families, enrollment in ROTC or seminary, cadetship in military/police academies, high school students in their last year, residing or working abroad, and elected/appointed officials.
- Basic citizen military training for a period of not more than six months.
- Establishment of citizen military training centers in every province.
- Incorporation of selected registrants into training.
- Mandatory ROTC training in colleges and universities.
- Establishment of ROTC units in schools that request for military training.
- Acceptance for advanced ROTC through screening and physical examination.
- Organization and staffing of ROTC units prescribed by the Secretary of National Defense.
- Funding for maintenance and operation of school ROTC units provided in the AFP's annual appropriations.
- Tuition subsidy of 50% for students in the upper 5% of their class undergoing advanced ROTC.
- Draftee training and service for a period not exceeding 24 months, with a training period of not more than 6 months and an active service period of not more than 18 months.
- Retention for maximum hospitalization for injured or sick reservists/draftees during training and service.

Incorporation into Reserve Force (Sections 44-48):
- Elected officials and presidential appointees may be commissioned in the Reserve Force.
- Graduates of basic ROTC awarded reserve enlisted ranks and assigned to reserve units.
- Graduates of advanced ROTC recommended for commission as second lieutenants and assigned to reserve units.
- Notification of reserve assignment to reservists.
- Reservists registry maintained by local civil registrars.

Maintenance, Training and Administration of Reserve Force (Sections 49-58):
- Accounting of reservists, particularly those in the Ready and Standby Reserves, to ensure readiness.
- Organization for maintenance and administration of the Reserve Force within the AFP and major service headquarters.
- Compulsory training of not less than 30 days but not more than 60 days for reserve units and individual reservists in a given year.
- Voluntary training to upgrade proficiency, with priority to officers of Standby Reserve units.
- Reserve officers' nonresident instruction to maintain and update proficiency.
- Active duty tour for training of reserve officers for a period not exceeding two years.
- Classification and maintenance of readiness of reserve units as Ready Reserve I (ready in 7 days) and Ready Reserve II (ready in 15 days).
- Procurement and maintenance of mobilization stock for selected Ready Reserve units.
- Successful completion of training as a requisite for promotion in rank.
- One classification of reserve officers in the inactive status, regardless of source or nature of commission.
- Reservists on compulsory training subject to military law, entitled to allowances and burial benefits.
- Reservists on voluntary training subject to military law and entitled to allowances.

Utilization of the Reserve Force (Sections 59-65):
- Mobilization through full mobilization (joint act of Congress and President), partial mobilization (joint act of Congress and President for selected units), or selective mobilization (by authority of the President for local threats or emergencies).
- Reservists called to active duty by mobilization receive pay, allowances, medical care, and benefits prescribed for regular force.
- Establishment of mobilization centers in each province for reservists to report during mobilization.
- Demobilization when the threat or emergency has passed.
- Auxiliary service for maintaining local peace and order, meeting local insurgency threats, assisting in rescue and relief operations, health welfare activities, and participating in socioeconomic development projects.
  - Civil auxiliary service: Nonmilitary activities, reservists not armed.
  - Military auxiliary service: Meeting local insurgency threats, reservists issued and allowed to carry firearms.
- Reservists performing auxiliary service entitled to allowances and burial benefits, subject to military law for military auxiliary service.
- Women reservists have the right and duty to serve in the AFP, with relevant standards for admission, training and commissioning.

Funding (Section 66):
- Funds appropriated for the administration, development and training of the reserve component to be used exclusively for implementing the provisions of this Act.
- Adequate funds to be appropriated and made available on a continuing basis for maintaining the readiness of Ready Reserve units and providing adequate training for reservists.
- The President may utilize a portion of the Military Assistance Fund to augment the appropriation for the Reserve Force.

Penalties (Sections 68-69):
- Failure of reservists to respond to the call to compulsory training or service punishable by imprisonment of not less than two months to not more than twelve months.
- Failure to register for compulsory military training or report for training after selection punishable by imprisonment of not less than one month to not more than three months.
- Failure of registrars and canvassers to provide updated listing of registrants punishable by imprisonment of not less than one month to not more than three months.