Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) does not expect senior high
school students will be forced to join their ranks once they undergo the proposed
mandatory Reserved Officers Training Course (ROTC)
Marine Brig. Gen. Edgard Arevalo was reacting to Senator Imee Marcos' pronouncement that she
cannot accept the proposal, saying, "You really cannot force a kid to
become a soldier."
"We take cognizance of the view of the good Senator Marcos as
against 'forcing the kid to becoming (a) soldier' with regard to the ROTC. With
all due respect, however, we maintain that taking and completing the ROTC
program does not make him -- or her -- ipso facto a soldier," he said in a
message to the Philippine News Agency(PNA).
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| (photo credit to owner) |
Arevalo notes that the proposal to revive the ROTC training among
the youth today is to make them empowered as to when there is an exigency, such
as calamities and national emergencies they can be readily tapped.
Unless, in their own volition, these young and patriotic Filipinos
opt to join the Armed Forces of the Philippines," he added.
Citing Article II Section 4 of the Constitution, Arevalo said it
is the prime duty of the government to serve and protect the people.
"Thus, the government may call upon its citizens to render
personal, civil, or military duties to defend the State. And the ROTC program
readies our men and women to fulfill that constitutionally mandated
obligation," he said.
AFP Chief-of-Staff Gen. Benjamin Madrigal Jr., said these times
call for the reintroduction of ROTC as it is needed to train and instill among
the youth the values of discipline, nationalism, respect for authorities, and
love of country, among others
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Report from PNA
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