Robin Padilla launches ‘Basic Citizens Military Training’ in Senate

MANILA, Philippines — Senator Robin Padilla is growing impatient that his proposed bill for the revival of mandatory Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC) is not moving in the upper chamber.

So he created his own scheme and launched the Basic Citizen Military Training in the Senate.

“I’m getting impatient with the mandatory ROTC bill. I was so impatient that I came up with my own strategy,” the first-time senator told reporters in Filipino during an ambush interview.

“I have lost hope. It’s been two years — for me, what are we waiting for? I had a platform when I ran, we filed it. [But], two years in this chamber, still nothing,” he also said in Filipino.

READ: Survey found more Filipinos in favor of mandatory ROTC, says Gatchalian

Padilla’s Basic Citizen Military Training was unveiled on March 11. Since then, 161 individuals have signed up. The senator said his target is to have 300 individuals participate in the drill that would run until June.

According to Padilla, his project seeks to establish “formal, actual, and physical” training for participants. He strongly believes that such exercise is needed, especially among the youth, so “they can develop discipline not only for defending the country but also to respond to disasters.”

Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa expressed support to Padilla’s move, emphasizing that the country needs to beef up its military reserve forces amid the rising tension in the West Philippine Sea.

“How can you defend if you don’t have a reserve? When you run out of soldiers, where do you get support for the soldiers? Does that mean that our earlier pronouncements that ‘we will fight in the West Philippine Sea’ do not mean anything, and it is just rhetoric? No corresponding action?” the former national police chief-turned-senator previously said.

READ: Dela Rosa, Hontiveros share opposing views on return of ROTC

Padilla’s proposal to revive the mandatory ROTC was also met with some opposition in the Senate.

Senator Risa Hontiveros said revial of mandatory ROTC should not be the priority in light of the maritime row.

“I think as the tension in the West Philippine Sea heats up, the most correct course of action for us as the Senate is to continue and judiciously increase support for military modernization, especially for the Philippine Navy and the adjustment of various other aspects of national defense and not make that an excuse. I think it is not the right policy direction to make ROTC mandatory, especially for our citizens whose ways are different in serving the country,” she stressed.