A Palace official backed President Rodrigo Duterte’s call to revive the Reserved Officers Training Corps, as this will instill discipline and nationalism to the youth.
Presidential Spokesman Salvador Panelo said that Duterte wants to bring back the ROTC program in academic institutions to discipline students and teach them the concept of nationalism.
“The President wants ROTC revived because of the discipline, the ideals of being a nationalist,” Panelo said in a Palace press briefing Monday.
“Moreover, we have to prepare ourselves. We are the only unprepared country given to many war. We had our ROTC, I learned a lot, and I think the students will learn a lot from having a training,” he added.
The Palace official made the remark after youth groups voiced its opposition to the President’s wish to revive the ROTC as a mandatory subject in senior high school, citing the culture of violence and student rights violations that occured in the past upon its implementation.
Salinlahi Alliance for Children’s Concerns said its revival would only instill brutality, fascism, corruption, and impunity, stressing the Duterte administration does not have an ounce of moral ascendancy to teach the youth about respect for human rights.
Anakbayan-Cebu and Akbayan-Cebu also echoed Salinlahi’s sentiment, saying that the ROTC might only lead to abuses perpetrated by those who are in power.
Duterte, meanwhile, remained firm in his decision to call for the program’s revival.
“I encourage Congress to enact a law that will require mandatory ROTC for Grades 11 and 12, so we can instill patriotism and love of country among our youth,” Duterte said in his speech in Tanza Cavite on Thursday.
When asked if Duterte needs to issue an executive order (EO) to finally move for the program’s revival, Panelo said no as the Congress will do the work.
“No, the position of the President is, the Congress should pass a law and I think there are already many House backers,” said Panelo.
At the House of Representatives, Deputy Speaker and Batangas Rep. Romeo Abu said his House Bill No. 5113 seeks to make ROTC mandatory for Grades 11 and 12 students in public and private schools.
“I appeal to the House leadership to pass the ROTC bill in line with President Duterte’s desire to revive this aimed at promoting the prime duty of the government to serve and protect the people,” he said.
At the Upper House, Senator Richard Gordon filed Senate Bill No. 1417 proposing to establish a Citizen Service Corps to create a pool of trained members who can render personal military or civil service in times of war, lawlessness, and calamities and disasters.
“The Constitution recognizes the vital role of the youth in nation building and seeks to promote and protect their physical, moral, spiritual, intellectual, and social well-being. It also seeks to inculcate in the youth patriotism and nationalism, and encourage their involvement in public and civic affairs,” Gordon said.”‹