Should ROTC be abolished from the curriculum?

The Reserved Officers Training Course (ROTC) which is mandated by the National Defense Act was passed way back in 1935.

Any system or law that is almost four decades old should be reviewed or revised to suit the times, especially since it has become a source of corruption. This was alleged by ROTC cadet Mark Chua of the University of Santo Tomas, for which he was brutally slain.

As we struggle to move ahead as a people, our leaders in the military and the government must keep an open mind to new ideas. Only then can we progress and make this country great again.

Malabon-Navotas Congressman Ricky Sandoval: I’m for optional ROTC. I understand that we still need to get officers from the ROTC. However, may hinihiligan ang ROTC. Hindi lahat ng tao gustong mag-ROTC, yung iba ayaw nila. They prefer to spend the time learning something else like the Internet or electronics. So I’d like to make it optional. They can choose among leadership training, learning how to navigate (the Net) or repairing electronic devices.

Teddy Casiño, secretary general, BAYAN: I am for the abolition of ROTC. The way it is now – it’s a useless program. Students don’t actually learn leadership or military skills in the ROTC. I’ve been through the program, I know lots of people who have been through the program and we all feel the same way – wala namang natututuhan dyan, eh. I feel we should first make it optional. Then the students should be able to make a choice if they want military training or if they want to do community work. Hindi lang purely military and not compulsory.

Tintin Bersola, Talk TV host: The new memo proposes that the students can have the liberty to choose specific disciplines under the ROTC, depending on one’s skills. I’m for that particular revision of the ROTC rules. I believe ROTC enforces discipline and the youth of today need that.

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Gene Orejana, TV host, On Line, ABS-CBN News Channel: I remember waking up very early on a Sunday morning to rush to formation – rain or shine. Dressed in fatigue uniform and heavy combat boots, I stood in line, marched in unison, joined drills, and spent the best of the day studying military tactics and...I don’t remember anymore. The night before was spent polishing boots and buckle, and pressing my uniform. I always went home tired as a log. This had been the order of my Sundays in my first two years in college.

I went through the course as a diligent ROTC trainee. Today, I believe I did not gain anything from my ROTC days, except memories of being pushed to think military. I did not even master the skill of assembling and disassembling an M14 or M16. Neither was I taught marksmanship, not having fired a single shot throughout the course. Official sadism does not make a military officer out of a young man, reserve or otherwise. ROTC did not contribute to my patriotism.

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Senator Gregorio Honasan: No, I’m against its outright abolition. The two-year mandatory military training for male college students is still relevant in order to instill self-discipline and patriotism in the face of internal strife like the Abu Sayyaf, as well as external threats such as the Spratly Islands issue. But we should seriously look into the complaints against the ROTC program and consider a radical reorientation of the institution. The death of Mark Welson Chua is an eye-opener. We must not be afraid of implementing changes. Instead I would propose for the inclusion of lectures on human rights and democracy, national unity and cooperation in the ROTC training.

AKBAYAN Congresswoman Etta Rosales: I’d rather make it optional. There are several courses our young people can take and military training can be one of them. Those who would like to train for the military can go through ROTC. Those who would like to become environmentalists can take special studies on the environment. Definitely, fascist practices should be totally abolished. Military training can help instill ideas of patriotism and love of country. This would instruct professionals to protect our country, instead of ending up as scalawags who cut corners and violate human rights like the Kuratong Baleleng.

Cynthia Patag, singer/actress: ROTC should be abolished from the curriculum. It had to take the death of one Mark Welson Chua to drive home the point that it is a source of corruption. ROTC is a needless expense and fruitless effort at a time when 75 percent of the population are hardly able to cope with rising costs. I don’t agree with what one general said – that ROTC builds character. It’s going to take more than a two-year mandatory military training course to do this. I’ve always believed na kanya-kanyang role tayo in society. If you want to join the military then go to the PMA or whatever.