Group slams ROTC, lower age of criminal responsibility

MANILA, Philippines — An organization is opposing what it referred to as measures violating children’s rights.

Salinlahi Alliance for Children’s Concerns said they are against the proposed mandatory Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC) for senior high school and amendment to the Juvenile Justice and Welfare Act that lowers the minimum age of criminal responsibility (MACR) among children in conflict with the law.

“Mandatory ROTC and lowering of the MACR directly violate children’s rights and would put Filipino children in further danger,” Eule Rico Bonganay, Salinlahi secretary-general, said in a news conference in Quezon City yesterday.

Salinlahi maintained that nationalism can be shown through learning about history and knowing that children can do something to help communities and not through participating in a program riddled with abuse of those in power and corruption.

“We are very much enraged. The Duterte administration has been consistently violating children’s rights – from poverty, neglect of social services, Oplan Tokhang to incarceration of children in conflict with the law, especially the poor, and now they are militarizing schools and teaching children and youth to be blind followers,” Bonganay said.

Salinlahi said they encourage the public to unite and oppose the anti-children measures.

“We shall show our unity and our rage in the coming days and weeks as we remain vigilant and ensure that our children’s rights are protected,” Bonganay said.