Pulse Asia survey: 69% favor mandatory ROTC for all young Filipinos

INQUIRER file photo

MANILA, Philippines — A Pulse Asia survey commissioned by Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri showed that 69 percent of Filipinos are in favor of making Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC) mandatory for all young Filipinos.

READ: ROTC’s dark past haunts as critics of reviving it tagged ‘unpatriotic’

A document shared with the media on Tuesday showed that the survey was conducted from December 3 to December 7, 2023.

The polling body specifically asked respondents about a proposal to make ROTC mandatory for all young people.

As many as 69 percent said they agree, while 17 percent said they disagree. Among the respondents who said they are in favor, 26 percent said they “strongly agree,” while 43 percent said they “somewhat agree.”

Meanwhile, 14 percent of the respondents said they cannot say at that time whether they agree or disagree.

A quick look at the survey results would also show that the majority of the respondents who voted in favor of making ROTC mandatory for all young Filipinos are from Mindanao (79 percent).

Visayas followed (74 percent), National Capital Region or NCR (67 percent), and Balance Luzon (63 percent).

Among social classes, the proposal was generally a hit among respondents under Class D (71 percent). It garnered 65 percent and 63 percent of positive votes among Classes ABC and E, accordingly.

In terms of opposition to ROTC, the survey revealed that it was recorded highest in Balance Luzon (20 percent). NCR and Visayas tied with 18 percent opposition votes, while only 9 percent was recorded in Mindanao.

Prior to the issuance of the commissioned poll, Zubiri told reporters that the proposed mandatory ROTC bill would be prioritized in the Senate in May.  Zubiri believes more senators are in favor of ROTC rather than not.

“Let’s give the bill a chance. We’ll vote on it. Whether it passes or not, but we will prioritize it this coming May before the sine die break,” said Zubiri in an ambush interview on Monday.

The Philippines’ mandatory ROTC was abolished following the death of then-19-year-old University of Santo Tomas student Mark Welson Chua.

Chua, who allegedly exposed corruption in the university’s ROTC program, was found dead on March 18, 2001.

According to the UST’s student publication — The Varsitarian — Chua’s decomposing body was rolled in a carpet. His hands and legs were hogtied while his face was wrapped with duct tape.

READ: Dela Rosa sure about passage of mandatory ROTC bill in Senate

Not long after, Republic Act No. 9163, also known as the National Service Training Program (NSTP) Act of 2001, was signed into law.

The measure allowed students to choose from the following service components: ROTC, The Literacy Training Service, and The Civil Welfare Training Service.