Rosal backs mandatory ROTC for HS seniors

LEGAZPI CITY -- Mayor Noel Rosal here believes the reinstatement of mandatory Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC) program for senior high school students is long overdue.

In an interview on Dec. 4, Rosal said it is time to train young people, “gabos man kami nag aragi dyan, maski may aki akong lalaki mas gusto kong madiscipline (we’ve all been there, I have a son and I want him to be disciplined and also become patriotic)”.

“Our patriotism must always be there, that’s why I am very much in favor of ROTC. Especially nowadays, young people must be disciplined instead of roaming around and worse, getting involved in illegal drugs,” Rosal said.

The mayor suggested that the ROTC for senior high school students should be held for two hours every week.

Joshua Martinez, a radio broadcaster, in a separate interview, also favored the reinstatement of the ROTC.

“ROTC will teach our children how to be responsible that is needed to become a better person in the near future,” he said.

Serena Sese, a mother and high school teacher, said she also favors ROTC because it fosters respect and build a strong brotherhood among the youth.

“Yes, I believe young students will be ready to face life challenges if they will be molded with respect, honesty, integrity, and discipline -- that is being taught in ROTC,” she added.

ROTC, which was previously implemented at the college level, was scrapped in 2002 because of an investigation into the murder of a University of Santo Tomas student who exposed alleged corruption in the program.

Meanwhile, seven major service academies will showcase their military discipline in the 1st Presidential Silent Drill Competition organized by the Office of the President, Presidential Security Group in coordination with the Department of National Defense and the Armed Forces of the Philippines through the Office of the Reservist and Retiree Affairs.

Participants will be from the Philippine Military Academy, Philippine National Police Academy, Philippine Merchant Marine Academy, Maritime Academy of Asia and the Pacific, Philippine Army Officer Candidate School, Philippine Navy Officer Candidate School, and Philippine Air Force Officer Candidate School.

The competition highlights this year’s ROTC Summit that will be staged at the Quirino Grandstand in Manila.

It will be attended by some 2,500 ROTC cadets from selected colleges and universities and uniformed personnel. The event is a prelude to the ROTC Unit’s three-leg Silent Drill Competitions in March 2020. (PNA)