Youth solon nixes compulsory ROTC training

The Kabataan partylist attempted to block the revival of the compulsory Reserved Officer Training Corps (ROTC) among college students, saying that the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), which is allegedly known for its bloody human rights records, should not “meddle” with the academic affairs of the young Juan and Maria de la Cruz.

“The ROTC has taught its cadets how to become blind and docile servants. With its grim and bloody human rights record, the AFP has no right to meddle with the academic affairs of our youth. A war-mongering and mercenary institution must not be allowed to infiltrate schools and teach students,” the lawmaker said.

Instead of a compulsory military training, Palatino filed House Bill No. 2355 or the expansion of the community-service component of the current National Service Training Program (NSTP), being implemented under NSTP Act of 2001.

The young partylist lawmaker said his bill aims to “inculcate the value of nationalism, social consciousness and responsibility in the youth, and for the youth to assist the government agencies in the delivery of basic social services to the people”, adding that the nation needs an army of volunteers and advocates to fight the threats of illiteracy, of political and social apathy, and the perpetuation of social inequities that continue to obstruct genuine national progress.”

Palatino also said that ROTC units in both public and private higher education institutions (HEIs) have been used for years as an instrument to tag organizations, deemed to be critical of the government, as “communist fronts.”

In 2001, the compulsory ROTC training had been eliminated and replaced by community service instead due to the case of Mark Welson Chua, a student from the Pontifical and Royal Catholic University of Sto. Tomas in Manila, who died in hazing. However, it was eventually found out his death was not the result of mere hazing, but murder.

Chua had spilled the beans about the corruption happening inside the UST-ROTC unit and had it published to one of the oldest student publications in the country, The Varsitarian.

The exposé resulted to the relief of the ROTC commandant, Major Demmy Tejares and some of his staff.

After the relief of the said ROTC commanding officers, Chua was advised by the new commandant to undergo security training at the Philippine Army camp, Fort Bonifacio in Makati City, where the murder allegedly happened. Prior the death of Chua, the young man has been receiving death threats. Chua disappeared on March 15, 2001.

Three days after his disappearance, his body was found floating in the murky Pasig River, wrapped in a carpet, with his face covered with cloth and sealed by a packaging tape, and his feet and hands tied up. According to reports, when the body was autopsied, the authorities said Chua was still alive when thrown to the river.

One of the four suspects, Arnulfo Appari, was sentenced to death by lethal injection on March 31, 2004 but the other three—Eduardo Tabrilla, Paul Joseph Tan, and Michael Von Rainard Manangbao are still at-large or also suspected to be missing. [Noel Sales Barcelona/CBCPNews]