Imee Marcos: Even my father changed his mind about mandatory ROTC

Even the late strongman Ferdinand Marcos saw no need to make the Reserve Officers' Training Program (ROTC) mandatory, his daughter, Senator Imee Marcos, said on Sunday.

Imee made the remark as she reiterated her opposition to calls for the revival of mandatory ROTC in the country, this time for senior high school students.

According to Imee, although her father had issued an executive order making ROTC compulsory among college students during his presidency, he eventually changed his mind about it.

"'Yung tatay ko, nagbago rin ang isip. Sa totoo lang, ang nangyari niyan nung 1967, nagkaroon ng utos 'yung tatay ko na maging mandatory ang ROTC sa lahat ng paaralan at ipinatupad ito sa executive order," she said.

Imee was referring to Executive Order 59, series of 1967, which made the ROTC program mandatory among colleges and universities across the country.

"Matapos ang halos mahigit isang dekada, by 1980, nakita niya na hindi nagwo-work. Kasi kapag pinilit mo ang bata, ayaw naman talagang manilbihan, na magsundalo, hindi mo talaga maipipilit," Imee said.

"So sabi niya gawin na lang na tatlong option. Noong 1980, binago niya, naging national service. Hindi na mandatory ang ROTC. Isa na lang sa tatlong options 'yung ROTC," she added.

This provision Imee was saying was part of Presidential Order 1706, or the "National Service Law" signed by President Ferdinand Marcos.

Under this decree, national service would be obligatory among all citizens of the Philippines, but it now consisted of three programs, namely civic welfare service, law enforcement service, and military service.

Imee said ROTC should only be made optional in schools, as there are other ways to inculcate patriotism among students.

"You can serve in many ways. Puwede ka namang maging nars, halimbawa. Malaking bagay 'yun kapag disaster. Mga nars, doktor—ang laki ng kontribusyon, sila talaga ang frontline, hindi naman sundalo," she said.

"Maraming anyo ang pagsisilbi sa ating bansa. And I think it should be an option kung ano 'yung angkop sayo, kung ano talaga ang bagay sa ginagawa mo, sa specialties mo, sa skill set mo. 'Yun na lang ang gawin," she added.

During his fourth State of Nation Address, President Rodrigo Duterte urged lawmakers to support the proposed mandatory ROTC program in public and private senior high schools.

"We expect support for the legislative initiatives aimed at strengthening defense-related systems," he said.

The House Committee on Basic Education and Culture last week began its deliberations on measures reviving mandatory ROTC. —Erwin Colcol/KG, GMA News