Palace: Mandatory military training bill can wait

MANILA, Philippines — Malacañang won’t be disappointed if the bill seeking mandatory military training for senior high school students cannot be passed by the Senate for lack of time.

Presidential spokesperson Salvador Panelo said the bill seeking the revival of mandatory military training could still be tackled when the 18th Congress opens on July 22.

“There is another new Senate coming up, so I don’t think that’s a problem,” said Panelo.

The House of Representatives passed a counterpart bill in May, but senators said they needed more time for a thorough debate on the bill.

Malacañang said it was confident the next Congress would pass the bill as a priority measure since military training among the youth is mandatory in other countries. —Julie M. Aurelio