Block revival of mandatory ROTC after PMA hazing — Makabayan solon

MANILA, Philippines — The death of a Philippine Military Academy (PMA) cadet due to hazing strengthens the call to block the revival of the mandatory Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC) for Grades 11 and 12, ACT Teachers Rep. France Castro said Thursday.

“Lalong tumitindi ‘yung panawagan natin na ipagbawal, ‘wag mandatory at ibasura itong panawagan ng Duterte administration sa mandatory ROTC sa senior high school,” Castro said as she denounced the death of Darwin Dormitorio last Sept. 18 due to hazing.

(Dormitorio’s death strengthens our call to block the Duterte administration’s proposed revival of the mandatory ROTC for senior high school students.)

Col. Allen Rae Co, chief of Baguio Police Provincial Office, said Dormitorio was beaten up by fellow cadets because of the missing combat boots belonging to another cadet.

READ: PMA cadet beaten up over missing boots – police

Gabriela Rep. Arlene Brosas meanwhile pointed out that justice for Dormitorio and other hazing victims would become elusive if officials condone the violence in PMA and other educational institutions.

Sen. Ronal dela Rosa, former Philippine National Police chief, earlier admitted that hazing remained deeply entrenched in PMA’s culture. Although he said he was not justifying the illegal act, Dela Rosa said in 2018 that the hazing he experienced made him more disciplined.

President Rodrigo Duterte signed into law on July 2018 Republic Act No. 11053 which bans all forms of hazing and imposes stiffer penalties against violators.

READ: Duterte signs law that bans all forms of hazing

This came following public outrage on the death of a University of Santo Tomas freshman law student, Horacio “Atio” Castillo III, due to hazing in September 2017./ac