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It is a matter of public knowledge that Cong. Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos, Jr., founding Chairman of the Marcos
Combat Shooters has an innate interest in the sport which he most certainly took from his father, the late Philippine President
Ferdinand E. Marcos. Cong. Marcos is a founding member of the Philippine Practical Shooting Association that former Congressman
Jack Enrile formed in November 1982. The young Marcos was one of the original field of Filipino shooters who competed in
the frist PPSA National Classification Match.
After the group's establishment was formalized in 1999, former Gintong Alay Director and current Ilocos Norte Governor, Michael
Marcos Keon, was named its founding President.
One of the Marcos Combat Shooters' first activities was the holding of firearms proficiency training for local law enforcers.
Initially spending P 200,000.00 for equipment, steel targets, and poppers. Cong. Marcos wanted only the best, world-class
facilities that would enable members to improve their skills so no proverbial stone was left unturned as the group anchored
its roots.
Limited as they may be, the Marcos Combat Shooters has a total of 24 members. Namely: Cong. Ferdinand Marcos, Jr., Gov.
Michael Keon, Gen Armand Agbayani, Mariano Marcos II, Yvonne Ranada, Lito Gorospe, Efren Saguiguit, Willie Agcaoili, Atty.
Chito Dumlao, Conrado Cu, Alipio Castillo II, Ricardo Go, Stephen Gavino, Edgar Lao, Norman Santiago, Hosing Pascual, Kalvin
Pascual, Mark Ong, Ellis James Ranada, Ryan Remigio, Nonilone Corpuz, Albert Andres, George Jose, and Noly Gregorio. Though
the group's officials stress that attracting more members is not a priority; as they added that they want members to organize
quality activities as this would, in time, attract more members.
Much of the group's activities are focused towards further enhancing the skills of their members. Ta achieve this, they practice
in their own shooting range in Barangay Suba, Paoay, Ilocos Norte. This PNP-accredited range, more popularly known as the
MCS Firing Range, has 17 bays and it has been described by shooters who have tried out the range to be one of the best in
the country with its scenic landscapes or sand dunes acting as natural wind barriers and with its bays carved out of a hillside.
Aside from entering competitions, the group also hosted several competitions not only to develop their skills and to foster
camaraderie not only amongst themselves, but also with other gun clubs as well.
Among the successful events organized by the club include the PPSA Championships held at the MCS Firing Range in 2003 and
the PPSA Nationals in 2005 which saw competitors coming in in droves. Other major events sponsored by the group was the 2000
Northwestern Luzon Championships, the Panagkasangay Invitational Shootfest (held annually during Cong. Marcos' birthday),
and the 2007 Cong. Bongbong Marcos Cup, which was a level 3, World Shoot XV Qualifier Match.
The current set of MCS officers are: Cong. Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. (Chairman), Gov. Michael Keon (Presiden), Mr. Ryan Remigio
(VP - External), Mr. Efren Saguiguit (VP- Internal), Dr. Dax Ranada (Secretary), Mr. Conrado Cu (Auditor), Mr. Lito gorospe
(PRO), Atty. Alipio Castillo III (Legal Adviser), with Gen Armand Agbayani, P/SSupt Roman Felix, Hon. Mariano Marcos II, Hon.
Yvonne Ranada as Members of the Board of Directors.
Presently, Ilocos Norte is hailed as the "hub of the practical shooting sport" in Northwestern Luzon.
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