Champion boxer, former basketball coach, and senator Manny Pacquaio has a new addition to his long list of titles: colonel.
Local media reported yesterday that Pacquiao has been promoted to a full colonel by the Philippine army. He shared the news himself last week when he posted a series of photos on Instagram with fellow soldiers.
“Today, I successfully defended my Commandant’s paper to promoted to a full Colonel,” Pacquiao’s caption reads.
This comes after Pacquiao completed the General Command And Staff Course last week as one of 187 students and reservists.
On Sunday, he posted another photo of the event with his wife Jinkee Pacquiao. “It’s a great honor to be a part of the Command and General Staff Course Class 62,” he wrote.
In 2011, Pacquiao jumped five ranks and was made lieutenant colonel by then-President Benigno Aquino III after a recommendation by army officials. This promotion caused controversy then because Pacquiao did not have a college degree.
Although Philippine laws state that elected officials can have an officer rank in the armed forces’ reservist force, a college degree is a requirement.
The Philippine army got around this technicality by honoring Pacquiao’s honorary doctorate degree from Southwestern University in Cebu.
Pacquiao’s last fight was in July when he was defeated by Australian Jeff Horn. He became a congressman in 2010 and currently serves as a Philippine senator.
