Bato scoffs at critics 'who want war' with China but oppose ROTC revival

Senator Ronald "Bato" Dela Rosa on Wednesday scoffed at those who are "pushing for war" with China over the West Philippine Sea issue and yet are opposed to the revival of the Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) program.

He gave the remark during the interpellation of Commodore Antonio Palces, who was nominated to the rank of Rear Admiral, during the Commission on Appointments (CA) defense committee hearing.

Palces serves as the Armed Forces of the Philippines' (AFP) current deputy chief of staff for education, training, and doctrines.

"Alam natin ‘yung imminent threat coming from China na talagang pinapalaki at pinapalaki ng ating mga kababayan dahil nandiyan naman talaga, nag-occupy sila sa West Philippine Sea," Dela Rosa said.

(We all know the imminent threat coming from China which was an issue that our countrymen is brining up because China is really occupying the West Philippine Sea.)

"But marami tayong mga kababayan ngayon, matatanda man or bata, na gustong-gusto makipag-giyera talaga sa China, gustong-gusto nila, they’re blaming the government for a very weak stance against China, at gustong-gusto nilang makipag-giyera pero ayaw naman nilang mag-ROTC,” he added.

(But a lot of people, young and old, want war with China. They are blaming the government for a very weak stance against China and they want us to go into war, but they do not want to undergo the ROTC program.)

A former national police chief, Dela Rosa then asked Palces, being the AFP official for education and doctrines, if he thinks reviving the ROTC program is a “very urgent” matter.

“I strongly believe that ROTC program should be revived in the schools,” Palces replied, adding the ROTC program instills discipline among the youth, which he said, is very needed for a strong country.

“[The students] learn some lessons as far as military things are concerned, and if ever push comes to shove, God forbid, we have a ready reserve who can assist the Armed Forces regulars in any capacity,” he said.

Dela Rosa welcomed Palces response and affirmed support on the nomination and ad interim appointments of the 50 military officers.

In 2019, Dela Rosa filed a bill for mandatory ROTC program for senior high school students in private and public schools.

Aside from the bill filed by Dela Rosa, there are six more Senate bills pushing for the ROTC program. These measures, however, remain pending at the committee level.

Mandatory ROTC was abolished in the Philippines in 2002 after the death of University of Santo Tomas student Mark Chua, whose killing was linked to his exposé on the anomalies in the training corps. —KBK, GMA News