AFP hails House passage of mandatory ROTC

The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) strongly welcomed the House of Representatives' approval of mandatory Reserved Officers Training Program (ROTC) for senior high school students and expressed hope that the Senate will pass the measure as well.

"The AFP welcomes this development that would pave the way in making ROTC mandatory for Grades 11 and 12. And we thank the House of Representatives for that. Hopefully, the Senate follows suit," a statement from AFP spokesperson Marine Brigadoer General Edgard Arevalo said.

House Bill 8961 mandates the institutionalization, development, training, organization and administration of basic ROTC for Grades 11 and 12 in both private and public education institutions.

The Lower chamber approved the measure on third and final reading on Monday, with 167 voting in the affirmative, four in the negative and zero abstentions.

"The AFP has been a consistent advocate of a military training program that shall form part of the school curriculum because that will help nurture nationalism and patriotism to the youth," the AFP said Tuesday.

ROTC, it stressed, "envisions to instill discipline and sense of purpose; respect for the laws and the authorities; and obedience to rules and regulations to students in a military training environment." 

Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana has also lauded the decision.

Under HB 8961, students in Grades 11 and 12 will have to undergo Basic ROTC program as a prerequisite for graduation.

"Today's young citizens need to be trained to become able and responsible citizens ready to respond to government’s call to render personal, civil, or military duties in times of calamities and national emergency as envisioned by the 1987 Constitution," the AFP said, citing Article II Section 4 Declaration of Principles and State Policies.

"They need to be exposed to the rudiments of basic soldiery no matter brief (four semesters) to help develop and hone their leadership potentials and character,"  the AFP added.

Arevalo assured that the AFP is committed to "assign as trainers officers and enlisted personnel with no criminal, civil, or administrative case involving corruption or other malpractices so that they will provide good role models to the students."

In the same statement, the AFP also slammed what they called "the teachings of local communists and their minions who are wolves in sheep’s clothing," and advised parents and students not to "listen to the noise" of militant and party-list groups supposedly allied with the Communist Party of the Philippines–New People's Army (CPP-NPA).

"What will we expect from this bloc but oppose the ROTC Program because they stand to lose their pool of potential cadre recruits? Remember those students who were among NPA who died in armed confrontations in Batangas and Laguna? Both turned out to be from the University of the Philippines, in Manila and Los Baños, respectively," it added. — Margaret Claire Layug/BM, GMA News