AFP backing Marcos' push for mandatory ROTC, says spokesman

The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) is supporting the proposed reinstitution of mandatory Reserved Officers' Training Corps (ROTC) program for senior high school students.

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. in his State of the Nation Address on Monday pushed for mandatory ROTC, naming the proposal as one of the priority measures of his administration.

"Una po, nais kong banggitin na itong plano ng ating Pangulo ay laman ng Constitution na ang pangunahing responsibilidad ng pamahalaan ay protektahan ang kanyang nasasakupan," AFP acting spokesperson Colonel Medel Aguilar said in a public briefing on Wednesday.

(I want to point out that the plan of the President is included in our Constitution which says that it is the government's primary responsibility to protect its citizens.)

"Kami po sa Armed Forces of the Philippines ay sumusuporta sa layunin ng ating Pangulo na palakasin ang ating citizen armed forces dahil kailangan natin ito sa panahon ng kagipitan at kalamidad, tulad ngayon," he added.

(We in the Armed Forces of the Philippines supports the objective of the President to strengthen its citizen armed forces in times of difficulties and calamity such as now.)

Marcos said the proposed mandatory ROTC aimed “to motivate, train, organize, and mobilize the students for national defense preparedness, including disaster preparedness and capacity building for risk-related situations.” 

The Philippine Army has said the proposed reinstitution of the mandatory ROTC program for senior high school students would provide a “trained and competent” reserve force for the country’s defense. -NB/GMA News