Reviving mandatory ROTC is reviving mandatory abuse

MORE THAN two decades after the brutal murder of Mark Welson Chua, which prompted the abolition of the mandatory Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC) in the Philippines, legislators are again attempting to revive the defunct program–this time with a more promising return, as lawmakers rush to kiss the feet of the two highest executive officials who prioritized the revival.

In the 19th Congress, which opened only in July, 21 bills were already filed seeking to reinstitute the mandatory ROTC program for college or senior high school students. Four of these were filed in the Senate, while the remaining 17 were filed in the House of Representatives. As these bills are essentially the same (including their titles and contents), the House resolved to approve a consolidated version of it through House Bill No. 6687, or the National Citizens Service Training (NCST) Bill, on second and third readings after 276 lawmakers voted in favor of it on Dec. 15, the same day that President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. certified it as urgent.

Lawmakers filed the bills claiming there is a need to instill a sense of nationalism, patriotism, and discipline among Filipino youth. They say the country needs more reservists for disaster response. But, contrary to the claims of those who fantasize and romanticize it, military training neither guarantees any of

To recount the story of Chua for the sake of those who do not know or choose to feign ignorance, Chua was the ROTC cadet that exposed to the Varsitarian the widespread corruption, extortion, and other irregularities in the UST ROTC unit in 2001. His revelation, those ideologies nor is it the only way to motivate the youth to help in times of disaster. published in the February 2001 issue of the Varsitarian, led to Maj. Demy Tejares’ relief from duty as commandant of the unit, as well as other Department of Military Science and Tactics officials. Chua’s dead and decomposing body was fished out of the Pasig River on Mar. 18, 2001.

Chua’s death led to the passage of Republic Act No. 9163, or the National Service Training Program (NSTP) Act of 2001, which allowed college students to choose between ROTC, Literacy Training Service, or Civic Welfare Training Service.

Even with such a choice, those who willingly opted for the ROTC program reported have continued reporting cases of hazing and physical and verbal abuse.

Regardless of its name–ROTC, NCST, and whatnot—the revival of mandatory military training for youth would only legalize the culture of abuse that remained alive even after Chua’s death.

Repealing the NSTP Act, if any of the ROTC bills being diligently pushed in Congress lapse into law, will be a dangerous turn of events for Filipino youth who might fall prey to power trippers who justify their abuses under the pretense of due respect. The culture of abuse that thrived during the time of Chua is still alive, although well hidden in the closed doors of ROTC headquarters in the country. Reports of such cases only come to light when a cadet dies or is gravely abused. We need not wait for another.

Congress must retract its decisions and reconsider its proposals to revive the mandatory ROTC program. Otherwise, it will create a law that goes against its principles of serving and protecting its people.