Proposed mandatory ROTC not prelude to PH militarization: AFP

FILE: Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC) students from the Benguet State University and King’s College of the Philippines (KCP) (PIA photo)

MANILA – Philippine security officials dismissed on Wednesday that the proposal to make Reserve Officers Training Corps (ROTC) compulsory for senior high school students will be a prelude to the country’s militarization.

In a press conference in Malacanang, Presidential Security Group (PSG) Commander, Brig. Gen. Jose Eriel Niembra, clarified that the plan to reinstate mandatory ROTC among students in Grades 11 and 12 is merely intended to instill discipline among the youth.

He said the government wanted to train the Filipino youth and transform them as “effective rescuers or first responders for natural and man-made disasters”.

Niembra also stressed that it was “impossible” to transform the Philippines into a military state because such move “takes years to develop”.

“First of all, this is only the start. Militarization takes years to develop. So eto, si Presidente naman only has two years more so it’s impossible na magiging prelude ito ng militarization of the entire youth sa buong Pilipinas (And the President only has two years more so it’s impossible that proposed mandatory ROTC will be prelude to militarization of the entire youth all throughout the country),” he said.

“And secondly, ang gusto nating i-develop dito ay readiness for any eventualities, hindi lang po pang-giyera (we want to develop their readiness for any eventualities, not just for war). We know that the ROTC and the reserved force of the country is the number one force that we can rely on in case of natural and man-made disasters,” the PSG chief added.

In June this year, Duterte certified as urgent a Senate bill mandating senior high school students in public and private schools to mandatorily undergo ROTC program in an effort to “invigorate their sense of nationalism and patriotism necessary in defending the State and further promote their vital role in nation-building”.

The House of Representatives in the 17th Congress approved its measure reviving the mandatory ROTC for senior high school students, but the Senate failed to pass its version of the bill.

ROTC used to be mandatory until Republic Act (RA) 9163 or the National Service Training Program (NSTP) was passed in 2001 under the Arroyo government, making the training course optional and voluntary for college students.

ROTC, one of the three components of the NSTP, provides military training to motivate and train students for national defense preparedness.

The two other components of the NSTP are the Civic Welfare Training Service (CWTS) and the Literacy Training Service and (LTS).

‘Stricter’ implementation of mechanisms to avoid abuses

Brig. Gen. Royland Orquia, Armed Forces of the Philippines’ assistant deputy chief of staff for reservist and retiree affairs, said there are “safety nets” for those who will undergo mandatory ROTC program.

Orquia guaranteed that the government will be “stricter” when it comes to implementing the mechanism for assessing the success of the military training, as well as for ensuring that the program will not be a breeding ground of abuse.

He likewise noted that professionalization of and training for ROTC commandants are among the current administration’s initiatives, in anticipation of the possible approval of proposed mandatory military training among the youth.

“Now, ang mukha po ngayon ng bagong ROTC is very different from previous dahil sa ngayon, nagkaroon na po tayo ng mga training doon sa prospect commandants, sa mga hahawak ng ROTC units (Now, the face of new ROTC is very different from the previous because now, we have been conducting trainings for prospect commandants),” said Orquia during the press briefing.

“There [is] strict implementation of the system and processes. May safety nets po tayong dinagdag dito ngayon sa present program ng ROTC, if and when maging mandatory (We have included safety nets in the present ROTC program, if and when it becomes mandatory),” he added.

Congress’ nod on proposed mandatory ROTC sought

The 18th Congress has yet to pass a proposed measure backing the President’s intent to reinstate the mandatory ROTC for senior high school students.

To date, there are at least 34,000 ROTC enrollees nationwide, Orquia said.

Orquia added that many have also expressed willingness to join the military training.

Learning the lesson from the past, the government will make sure that ROTC recruits will become the “best and bravest,” Niembra said.

Presidential Management Staff Assistant Secretary Joseph Encabo expressed hope that the lawmakers would approve the mandatory military training in senior high school.

Encabo said stakeholders are also willing to cooperate with Congress to expedite the passage of the proposed measure.

“It is an act of Congress needed in the said bill. And we’re looking forward to that,” he said.

“And we hope that all our efforts, our joint efforts here, coming from the service academies, from the technical working group, and the other government agencies will somehow be able to connect with them if they need some information or data gathering,” Encabo added.

Silent drill competition to showcase ROTC cadets’ ‘capability, character’

Meantime, no less than the Commander-in-Chief conceptualized the first presidential silent drill competition that will be held at the Quirino Grandstand in Metro Manila on Dec. 20.

Technical working group chairman, Commander Julien Dolor said competitors include the Philippine Military Academy, the Philippine National Police, the Maritime Academy of Asia and the Pacific, the Philippine Merchant Marine Academy, the Philippine Army Officer Candidate School, the Philippine Navy Officer Candidate School, and the Philippine Air Force Candidate School.

Niembra said the silent drills are meant to showcase the ROTC cadets’ “capability and character.”

“He (Duterte) ordered that it be done doon sa Quirino Grandstand para po ma-appreciate ng ating mga kababayan na ito ‘yung ating Armed Forces, ito ‘yung ating mga kadete (He ordered that it be done at the Quirino Grandstand so our countrymen would appreciate our armed forces, our cadets),” he said.

“Hopefully, this will awaken the interest of our people doon po sa ating (in our) ROTC program),” the PSG chief added.