Their ‘ideal’ our ‘curse’

The beating he received was so severe it seemed he underwent a fraternity hazing. They even tied up his hands and feet. Then they rolled him up in a ceremonial carpet and took him for a drive. Then they took him out of the car still rolled up in the carpet and tossed him into the murky waters of the Pasig River. He was not a drug pusher or a drug user; he was an Engineering student whose only mistake was to expose the corruption and extortion being done by officials of the UST-ROTC program. Three days later the police fished out his decomposing body along the river. His name was Mark Welson Chua and his murder in March – 2001 was the tipping point that ended the mandatory Reserve Officers Training Course or ROTC in the Philippines.

Mark Welson Chua’s murder was truly sadistic and sensationalized but the real reason the ROTC failed in the Philippines was because it was another copycat program taken from the United States and injected on our educational system without making sense and purpose of it in terms of Philippine reality. It was a carry over from our unprepared state during World War II and assumed as the sure fire answer for creating disciplined men.

Unfortunately the knowledge and training had no immediate or practical application, it violated peoples fashion sense in terms of white-sidewall haircuts, robbed them of precious study and rest days on the Saturdays or Sundays and intentionally violated their dignity by treating them like slaves to be shouted at and ordered around by people who had no other employable skills than to bully “grunts” or freshmen. Worst of all, because it was “Mandatory” no one could challenge or question it in spite of the voluminous charges of corruption.

Sadly men have poor memories and we once again hear of suggestions to revive the ROTC. It makes sense that guys like President Duterte and his age group would all support the return of ROTC because in their time it was a program that was relevant and run by men who had integrity and respect for the “uniform.” Many of them got ROTC scholarships just like my Dad Louie Beltran. But their “ideal” was our “curse” and in the time of Mark Welson Chua it became the death of him because by then ROTC stood for corruption in the procurement and sale of uniforms, extortion of students for exemptions, demerits or grades, Hazing, and ultimately the murder of Chua.

Albert Einstein pointed out that: “We cannot solve problems by using the same way of thinking we used when we created them” and I am not about to argue with such genius. Those backing the return of ROTC suggest that it would be good for instilling discipline in young people. Sorry, but if your parents failed to raise you up and instill discipline, it would take more than a short course such as ROTC to sow discipline in you. If we want discipline, introduce it from kinder garden onwards just like the Japanese do.

Instead of ROTC, I would suggest that our lawmakers, educators and all the President’s men should read up and study the Mandatory Military Service programs of Israel, Singapore and Taiwan. Unlike ROTC that only applies to the rich or those who can afford college, MMS programs requires all able bodied men and women of a certain age group to serve a set number of weeks/months every two years thereby breaking down class barriers! We can even start with all the Drug using “surrenderees.” The MMS can also be an educational and skills training program for out of school individuals giving them employable skills such as Emergency Medical technicians, Coast Guard Rescue/Scuba divers, Security guards, Barangay Tanods, Traffic Enforcers all with proper training and certification and not based on political connection or ability to pay tuition fees.

The MMS in Israel breaks class barriers, creates a batch mate system and support group for life. Because of this participants move on with a better network of contacts whom they have trained and worked with and know what to expect in terms of attitude, competency and performance. As a result group members carry on in business or civic projects beyond the MMS program. The best of the best are also selected for further training and competency almost like getting an MBA scholarship. What is unique to the Israeli version is that leadership is based on competence and can be challenged in the interest of the team or the mission. As a result they don’t resort to “fragging” the C.O.

Instead of just marching around the parade ground waiting for war as the ROTC is envisioned, the MMS program can be designed to be useful or applicable in everyday requirements such as response teams for disasters, reforestation activities, environmental cleanup, search and rescue, functions similar to the US National Guard or even as augmentation force for Traffic and crowd assistance.

Unlike the ROTC that was run strictly by Military officials, the MMS should be a program run by educators, specialists or professionals trained in capability enhancement, disaster response mitigation, skills development training and not just basic Military Science of marching, carrying a dummy wooden M14 rifle.

Lastly, dispense with the simulated military uniforms. The uniforms and accessories generated so much profit it became the hot bed of corruption in ROTC and when the profit was no longer enough, officers and officials resorted to extortion asking for whisky, wine, watches and ultimately cash in exchange for being posted in the air conditioned DMST office, being excused for several days absences, getting an exemption from ROTC, or simply just paying for the grade without having to get the haircut or showing up at the parade ground.

If a program is unpopular, it is because there is something very wrong with it. Making things mandatory does not make them right. We need to come up with right programs so that people understand the purpose, see the benefit they get from it and the importance of their role and participation in it.

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