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New
ROTC is 'optional'
by Flowell P. Galindez and Allan Gilbert C. Lacson
The
Adamson Chronicle May
3, 2002
THE GOVERNMENT is already completing plans that will facilitate
the implementation of the National Service Training Program
(NSTP), with the Department of National Defense (DND) as the
lead agency.
The NSTP Bill, or more specifically known as the House Bill
3593, is a consolidated bill voted by 141 representatives
against 3 no votes from the Bayan Muna partylist, which endorsed
the House Bill 2717 calling for the abolition of the Reserve
Officers Training Corps (ROTC).
(ADROTH
Project note: The NSTP is a consolidation of House Bill 3593
and Senate Bill 1824)
The
NSTP will be mandating all freshman college level students
to become cadets who will be trained under the National Service
program, starting school year 2002-2003. The program also
prescribes that women students will also be mandated to take
the said course. The NSTP will be composed of three program
components. The Military Training Service (MTS), to be supervised
by the Arm Forces of the Philippines (AFP); Law Enforcement
Service (LES), under the Philippine National Police (PNP)
and Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG); and
the Civic Welfare Service (CWS) directed by the Commission
on Higher Education (CHED), Department of Social Welfare and
Development (DSWD) and the Technical Education and Skills
Development Authority (TESDA). The DND will be the overall
directing agency. (for more information, see sidebar article
"NSTP: new name, same game?")
According to the DND, the said training is "optional",
that is the student must choose which among the three components
will he be taking.
"It
is better to say its Elective than Optional to avoid the bewilderment
of the students" explained by LTSG Rommel Oropesa, the
new assistant commandant of ROTC-AdU. He further explained
that the optional status of ROTC doesn't mean that the student
will have the option not to take the course; students are
still required to take the course as it is still part of the
curriculum.
Oropesa
also mentioned that ROTC promotes nationalism, patriotism,
obedience and respect to the constitution. "I would not
give any reaction in regards with the NSTP bill," he
stated when asked about the clamor for the enactment of the
said bill.
Meanwhile,
Abolish!, a nationwide alliance calling for the abolition
of the ROTC, criticized the NSTP last November 13 via an indignation
protest in front of the Sandiganbayan. The indignation rally
also reminded the government of several ROTC-related deaths;
Seth Lopez of De La Salle University (DLSU)-Taft, Samuel Rodico
of Luna College in Pangasinan and recently, Mark Welson Chua
of the University of Santo Tomas.
The
Chua case now has several witnesses to lighten the probing
of his murder. "We had a lot of witnesses as of now,
but still we are looking for a way how to elevate big fishes
for this case," said Tina Palabay, conveyor of ROTC ABOLISH
Movement regarding the investigation as they look for leading
witnesses in Chua's and other's cases.
Chua was a cadet officer of the UST ROTC Corps who was found
dead after exposing an alleged corruption case involving his
officers. His case ignited the widespread call for the abolition
of ROTC which was described by its critics and detractors
as a system riddled with corruption and uselessness.
Meanwhile,
activist student group Anakbayan- Sciences chapter posted
fliers condemning the program as an added "source of
corruption and an environment for fostering abuse of women."
Anti-ROTC groups staged weekly round of walk-outs in many
colleges and universities in the country led by Abolish! and
other militant activist groups as a sign of protest against
the ROTC system.
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