Mandatory ROTC directive gains mixed reactions

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has declared in his first State of the Nation Address that the Reserved Officers' Training Corps (ROTC) program would be mandatory for Grade 11 and 12 students.

There have been mixed views and reaction to the announcement among students, parents, and other organizations.

According to Oscar Oida’s report on “24 Oras” on Tuesday, a Grade 10 student feared that the move might be an additional burden not only for learners but also to their parents.

“Sagot po ba ng gobyerno yung gastusin po sa mga gamit na gagamitin po? Kasi wala naman akong alam sa pakikipag-gyera po,” she said.

(Will the government shoulder the expenses for the things that will be used? Because I don't know anything about warfare.)

Marcos said the objective of the ROTC is to motivate, train, organize and mobilize students for national defense preparedness.

One parent, however, lamented that mandatory ROTC may cause problems, including hazing and corruption.

“Mahirap lang yan kasi ibibilad ka lang niyan sa araw. Naranasan ko yan noong ako nag-aaral pa ng college. At saka yung isa pang problema dyan magiging cause pa yan ng… hindi natin masabi baka hazing at saka lalong-lalo na yung corruption. Magbabayad na lang kung sino man ang may katungkulan doon para lang sila ay ipasa,” he said.

(That’s difficult because you will be under the heat of the sun for long periods of time. I experienced that when I was still in college. And then the other problem there may be hazing and corruption... (some may) simply pay whoever is the person in-charge just to pass the subject.)

Kabataan Partylist Rep. Raoul Manuel also expressed disapproval regarding the matter.

“Parang kinalimutan na yata from being mandatory ginawang optional ang ROTC. Dahil po yun sa maraming abuso na nagpapatuloy, na hanggang ngayon ay hindi nabibigyan ng solusyon,” Manuel said.

(It seems that they have forgotten that ROTC is optional, no longer mandatory. That's because of the many abuses that continue to this day and that have not been resolved until now.)

Marcos proposed to reinstitute the ROTC and the National Service Training Program (NSTP) as mandatory for Grade 11 and 12 students in all public and private institutions.

“The aim is to motivate, train, organize, and mobilize the students for national defense preparedness, including disaster preparedness and capacity building for risk-related situations,” he said in his first State of the Nation Address.

The mandatory ROTC program was scrapped in 2002 following the passage of Republic Act 9163, an act establishing the National Service Training Program (NSTP).

The law was passed after the March 2001 killing of University of Santo Tomas student Mark Wilson Chua, allegedly by fellow cadets after corrupt practices were exposed within the ROTC Corps.

Pro-ROTC

The UP Vanguard Incorporated, an alumni association of graduates of UP ROTC advance courses, has agreed to the return of mandatory ROTC.

The group suggested the creation of a commission that will focus on citizen's service training instead of placing this under the jurisdiction of the Armed Forces of the Philippines or AFP to avoid abusive practices.

The group also said it is better to implement the ROTC program in the tertirary level.

Guido Alfredo, UP Vanguard Inc. national commander, said “We have to be careful when we talk about recruiting service into the military because we have signed an international treaty that prohibits countries to recruit children. Children are defined as below 18 years old.”

Further, National Youth Commission chairman Roland Cardema said ROTC will help in teaching the youth discipline and nationalism.

“Nakita ninyo disiplinado ang mga tao sa South Korea. Lahat ng lalaki beterano ng military service, two years nga ang sa kanila. Kahit anak ka ng bilyonaryo, pulitiko o artista, required ka mag military service and it is a source of pride and nationalism among them,” Cardema said.

(You can see how disciplined the people of South Korea are. All of the men have two years of military experience. Even if you are the son of a billionaire, politician, or actor/actress, you are required to serve in the military, which is a source of pride and national pride for them.)

For Philippine Army Commanding General Lieutenant General Romeo Brawner Jr., mandatory ROTC will provide the country a trained and competent reserve force that is important in defending the country.

“(This) is very important in the defense of our country, following the lessons that we are learning from the Russia-Ukraine conflict,” Brawner said. -- Mel Matthew Doctor/BAP, GMA News