Duterte orders daily silent drills to honor Rizal, nation

Inspired by what he saw in China, President Rodrigo Duterte on Friday directed the military to perform silent drills to honor Jose Rizal and the nation.

Duterte gave this order during the closing ceremony of the 1st Presidential Silent Drill Competition held at Manila’s Quirino Grandstand, near the Rizal Monument.

The Philippine Military Academy won the silent drill competition, besting six other schools such as the Philippine National Police Academy and Philippine Merchant Marine Academy.

Philippine Military Academy Silent Drillers showcase a lighthearted routine: They are champions of thr 1st Presidential Silent Drill Competition @gmanews pic.twitter.com/iyoQATi16a

— Joseph Morong ???????? (@Joseph_Morong) December 20, 2019

“I was inspired when I went to China. Kasi every sundown, meron silang drill. A drill before the flag is lowered. And people congregate every afternoon to see the drill performed by the different units assigned for that day,” the President said in his speech.

“I want you to go into a sort of an activity to honor Rizal at ang ating bayan. Do it and I order it every day. It will be spearheaded by the Armed Forces of the Philippines and those who’d like to participate.”

Duterte also used the occasion to reiterate his call for young Filipinos to signup for the Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC) program.

He explained that the program aimed to instill discipline, leadership, respect for authority, loyalty and patriotism among the youth.

“We have to have a reserve force which can be mobilized anytime,” he said. “‘Yun ‘yung mga bata na ayaw, hayaan ninyo ‘yan. So there will always be a time for an accounting in this country.”

While the President wanted the ROTC program to be mandatory for senior high school students, Congress had yet to pass legislation for it. — DVM, GMA News