MANILA, April 8 -- Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri on Monday said he is ready to take on the "shared responsibility" of protecting the country's sovereignty and democracy after achieving the rank of Lieutenant Colonel of the Philippine Army reserve force.

Zubiri was donned with the rank by Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Chief-of-Staff General Romeo Brawner Jr., a former chief of the PA, in a simple ceremony at Camp Aguinaldo in Quezon City.

"It is a great honor to finally come to the culmination of that partnership, as I now take on the responsibility of being a reserve Lieutenant Colonel of the Army, prepared to defend the country not only in the halls of the Senate but also out in our war rooms and on the field, alongside y...