Panelo wants mandatory military training for all ‘able-bodied’ Filipinos

Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo. INQUIRER file photo / JOAN BONDOC

MANILA, Philippines — Military training should be mandatory for all “able-bodied” Filipinos, Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo said, as President Rodrigo Duterte is pushing for the revival of the mandatory Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC) for senior high school students.

Panelo cited that military training has been mandatory in other countries.

“It should be mandatory. I share the view that all citizens, able-bodied citizens of the Philippines, male or female, should be required to have compulsory military training for our own security,” he said in a Palace briefing.

On Monday, Duterte certified as urgent Senate Bill No. 2232, which would make ROTC mandatory for Grades 11 and 12 in public and private educational institutions in the country.

READ: Duterte certifies mandatory ROTC bill as urgent

But Senate Majority Leader Juan Miguel Zubiri said it would be “next to impossible” to approve the bills given that the Senate only has one session before the 17th Congress ends.

Panelo said Malacañang remained hopeful the mandatory ROTC would be passed next Congress.

READ: Approval of bills Duterte certified as urgent ‘next to impossible’ — Senate

The mandatory ROTC was abolished in 2002 after the death of University of Santo Tomas student Mark Chua. His killing was linked to his exposé on the anomalies in the training corps. (Editor: Julie Espinosa)