Oppose the Revival of Mandatory ROTC! Oppose a Corrupt Institution that promotes a macho, sexist, homophobic, and violent culture!
The Reserve Officers' Training Corps (ROTC) in the Philippines began in 1912 when the Philippine Constabulary commenced military instruction at the University of the Philippines. It sought to provide military training for students to mobilize them for national defense preparedness.
However, serious issues embedded in the ROTC quickly surfaced. In 2001, then UST ROTC cadet Mark Welson Chua was killed after he wrote an article in the school paper exposing the corruption in the institution. Chua's death spurred the creation of the National Service Training Program (NSTP) Act of 2001, which finally removed ROTC as a mandatory course for graduation. Different cases of abuse have likewise been reported among students. Across the country, students reported cases of severe torment, ranging from direct physical mistreatment to psychological abuse.
During former President Rodrigo Duterte's term, he voiced his determination to make the Reserved Officers Training Corps program mandatory for students several times.
There are now 29 bills filed for the reinstatement of Mandatory ROTC. In his first SONA, President Bong Bong Marcos mentioned the enactment of mandatory ROTC as one of its priorities for the youth. VP Sara Duterte, who is also the Department of Education Secretary, voiced strong support. Lawmakers, including Senator Win Gatchalian, chair of the Senate Committee for Basic Education, Arts and Culture, said in his recent statement that there is a big chance that the mandatory ROTC bill will be passed in the 19th Congress.
Some government officials claimed the program would (1) provide the Philippines a source of defense and (2) would help instill discipline and patriotism among students. They propose to strengthen mandatory ROTC to "instill love of country and good citizenship."
Instead of making ROTC mandatory for Senior High Schools, we should allot more time on subjects like social sciences, history, and Filipino. In this manner, the youth can understand more the need to protect the country from foreign intervention. We must also strengthen the National Service Training Program (NSTP) which would include comprehensive community service, ecological services, disaster preparedness, and human rights education—including trainings on gender sensitivity and respect for diverse sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, and sex characteristics (SOGIESC)—among others.
Educating the youth about the country's rich history, raising their socio-political consciousness, and equipping them with the knowledge to better understand and address the fundamental problems of our society is the better alternative. We must advance a nationalist, scientific, and mass-oriented education. It is incumbent upon us, the youth, to oppose mandatory ROTC. This program will never instill patriotism among students; on the contrary, it will only create an environment that fosters violence, abuse, and blind obedience to authority.
Attached herewith is the Joint Counter-Position Paper by Youth Organizations on Philippine Congress’ Proposal to Revive Mandatory ROTC for Grade 11 and Grade 12 Students
If you're interest to make change, you may sign up the petition. Here's the reference of the petition from change.org:
Gabriela Youth Philippines. (n.d.). No to Mandatory ROTC!. Retrieved from https://www.change.org/p/oppose-the-revival-of-mandatory-rotc-oppose-a-corrupt-institution-that-promotes-a-macho-sexist-homophobic-and-violent-culture?redirect=false&fbclid=IwAR0ZP9g_KGKbodHAGBKY1AJurCLZGivqUzdVC2I7kakGxP2X0mbI-vFiNJ0
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