Philippine Army supports Bongbong Marcos’ call for revival of mandatory ROTC
MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine Army on Tuesday said it supports the call of President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos to revive the mandatory Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC) program for senior high school students.
In his first State of the Nation Address (Sona) on Monday, Marcos called on Congress to pass the law mandating the ROTC to become part of the senior high school curriculum in all public and private tertiary schools.
READ: Bongbong Marcos to Congress: Make ROTC mandatory in senior high school
Asked for his reaction, Army spokesperson Col. Xerxes Trinidad told reporters: “The Philippine Army supports the national defense strategy of our Commander-in-Chief which includes the revival of the mandatory ROTC program for our youth.”
“Moreover, the organization trusts the wisdom of our legislators for the program’s revival,” Trinidad added.
Trinidad said the ROTC program is a crucial part of the military’s long-term reserve force development plan.
“The proposed revival of mandatory ROTC program will be instrumental in the development of a capable, committed and well-trained reserve force that will serve as an expansion base for the regular force in times of war, rebellion, or other national emergencies,” Trinidad pointed out.
Vice President and concurrent Education Secretary Sara Duterte has also expressed hopes that the mandatory ROTC training will be included in the priority legislative agenda of the Marcos administration.
In 2002, the ROTC was made optional through the National Service Training Program (NSTP) Act of 2001 or the Republic Act No. 9163.
The law was created after University of Santo Tomas sophomore cadet Mark Welson Chua was killed in 2001 for exposing corruption in the school’s military training program.
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