‘Bato’ slams ROTC revival critics, says comments, keyboards won’t win wars

MANILA, Philippines – Online comments and criticisms alone are not enough to defend and protect the country should war break out, Senator Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa pointed out, and slammed critics of efforts to revive the Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC) program.

“Karamihan ngayon sa mga kabataan natin, ang daming mga netizens, e gusto makipaggiyera sa China. Gusto niyo makipag-giyera sa China, ayaw niyo naman mag-ROTC (Many netizens want war with China.  You want to go to war with China but refuse to undergo ROTC training!),” Dela Rosa said Monday morning in an ABS-CBN News Channel interview.

“Paano kayo lumaban doon? Ano ba ang labanan? Yung keyboard keyboard lang? Puro comment lang? Hindi ganun ang labanan (How will you fight? War is not just about keyboards and comments.  It isn’t like that),’ he added.

Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian, sponsor of the ROTC revival measure, said the bill will be re-filed in the 18th Congress as it was not passed in the 17th Congress due to time constraints.

READ: Gatchalian sees swift passage of ROTC bill in 18th Congress 

“Kaya kailangan niyo magprepare. Kung kinakailangan magmuster tayo ng mga fighters, mga warriors, mga sundalo natin from the reserve force. Dapat available sila anytime (We have to prepare. If warranted, we have to muster fighters, wariors, soldiers from the reserve force.  They should be available anytime),” Dela Rosa said.

Several lawmakers and youth groups, however, are opposing the bill, which, they claimed, will only teach blind obedience and not nationalism.  (Editor: Gilbert S. Gaviola)

READ: Bayan Muna: ROTC won’t teach nationalism 

READ: Kabataan, Gabriela solons slam mandatory ROTC