No to reinstating ROTC

In a press conference on February 2, 2019, senior high school students from various schools in Metro Manila express their condemnation on the railroading of the passage of mandatory ROTC by the House of Representatives.

SHS students from Ateneo de Manila, De La Salle, UST, FEU and PUP came together to reject the reinstating of mandatory ROTC in the educational system.

ROTC was abolished because of the students' objection to the abuses and corruption being proliferated by the program. There are still many unresolved cases of physical, psychological, and sexual harassments, and ROTC being mandated again in Senior High Schools is tantamount to forcing back these violations to be forgotten.

The death of Mark Welson Chua, a cadet in the University of Santo Tomas, sparked controversy and later led to the abolishment of the program. Chua exposed the program department’s widespread corruption, extortion, and even hazing. Days after, his body was found dumped in the Pasig River.

"Taong 2014 nang may isang estudyante sa amin sa PUP na biktima ng hazing at harassment. Pinalo sya ng paulit ulit ng rifle, at nakakatanggap rin ng death threats. Imbes na tugunan ang aming mga hinaing para sa libreng edukasyon, ROTC ang pinopondohan." cites Dianne Rala from PUP SHS.

The pretext for the implementation of mandatory ROTC as for the government was to prepare our country for war against other countries through military training of the youth. But we can see that this intent is not genuine. In the case of foreign countries entering our country, extorting our natural resources, and exploiting our people, and threatening our national sovereignty, the government is lax

The Duterte administration says that the program would "instill discipline and patriotism among the youth", but it is clear that they only want to instill blind obedience to our students. Their interpretation of loving our country is mindlessly following the orders of the government and support it in forwarding repressive and anti-people policies. Genuine love for the country means truly serving the people and fighting for the rights of the marginalized sectors of society.

Raoul Manuel

Deputy Secretary General

National Union of Students of the Philippines