AFP IN SCANDAL OVER AWARDS GIVEN TO BILLIONAIRE SOLON
But Romero claims he did not “solicit” his many medals
THE Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), thru the Philippine Air Force (PAF) can only weakly claim it is conducting an “investigation” and “reviewing” its award policies on reserve officers over the scandalous awards given to former partylist congressman and billionaire businessman, Michael Odlyn ‘Mikee’ Romero.
The son of billionaire Reghis Romero (RII Builders/Harbour Centre Port Terminal), Mikee was subsequently elected a member of Congress in 2016 under the ‘1-Pacman Partylist’ and served in that capacity until the 2025 midterm polls.
He was first commissioned as an Air Force reserved officer with the rank of colonel in 2021 and appointed as commander of the Tactical Operations Wing Reserve Northern Luzon, the following year. His immediate commissioning as a reserve colonel is already questionable, military officers said.
Eagle-eyed active and reserve officers of the military posted their shock and dismay on social media after the office of Romero released a photograph of him with new AFP Chief, General Antonio Nafarette, during their confirmation hearing at the Senate last August 13 where Romero was promoted to the rank of brigadier general in the AFP Reserve Command. His swift promotion in just about 5 years also raised eyebrows among enlisted personnel.
Among the medals that caught the attention of active and retired military officers is the ‘Gold Cross Medal’ (GCM) and the ‘Distinguished Aviation Cross’ both of which are only awarded for showing heroism and gallantry in combat during active military operations.
“I never solicited my medals”
As the scandal widens, Romero announced his “retirement” from the Reserve Command last August 19, in a vain attempt to let the scandal subsequently die down.
Prior to this, Romero also issued a statement claiming he never asked nor solicited any award or medal conferred on him by the military.
“Lahat ng pagkilala at parangal ay kusang ibinigay batay sa aking paninilbihan. Kailanman ay hindi ko ito hiningi o ipinakiusap,” Romero insisted.
“All relevant General Orders and official documentation are part of the permanent records of the Armed Forces of the Philippines. I have never claimed any distinction that is not explicitly supported by these official records. I let the work, the official documents, and the service records speak for themselves,” Romero added.
However, members of the military would not let go of the issue.
Retired Philippine Army Colonel Dencio Acop, in a social media post branded the billionaire’s denial as “the biggest BS I’ve come across with.”
Acop, a “mistah” of former AFP Chief GEN. Eduardo M. Año (PMA Class of 1983) and a Distinguished Service Cross (DSC) recipient, said that standing beside AFP Chief Nafarette in the photo released by his office, there is “no way in heaven or hell” that Romero, a reserve officer, who has never really served in active duty, “has more awards and decorations than the CSAFP!”
Retired PAF MGEN. Romeo V. Poquiz also echoed the demand of military officers and personnel for the AFP to bring out all the records pertaining to the awards given to Romero and the details of the combat missions that Romero participated in that merited his being given the GCM and the ADC, among his many awards.
Poquiz also noted that retirement in the military, even in the Reserve Command, is not as easy as Romero merely submitting a letter of resignation/retirement to the military leadership so that the investigation would be dropped and the whole incident forgotten.
In the ongoing probe, it is not made clear whether the top military brass, past and present, would also be questioned, especially who among them recommended and approved Romero’s medals that have scandalized the military chain of command and their families.
Active and retired military officers are also demanding accountability from the military officials that went along with the giving of awards to undeserving military reserve officers to restore the tattered prestige of military awards and medals.
From the Internet with the help of AI, the PAF was headed by the following commanders between 2021 (year of Romero’s commission) and 2026, when he was promoted as brigadier general—and his combat medals questioned:
LTGEN. Allen Paredes (January 16, 2020 – December 7, 2021); LTGEN. Connor Anthony D. Canlas Sr. (December 7, 2021 – December 22, 2022); LTGEN. Stephen Parreño (December 22 – December 20, 2024); LTGEN. Arthur Cordura (December 20, 2024, up to the present).
The meteoric rise of Romero in the Reserve Command appears to have occurred under the term of Cordura in the PAF and AFP Chief of Staff General Romeo Brawner.
Brawner is AFP Chief from July 21, 2023, until his retirement last July 21 and replacement by Gen. Nafarette, former head of the Western Mindanao Command (Westmincom).
In the ongoing probe, it is not made clear whether the top military brass, past and present, would also be questioned, especially who among them recommended and approved Romero’s medals that have scandalized the military chain of command and their families.
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