Speak out: Restoring ROTC's status

Sun.Star Daily Publication Date: [May 13, 2006]

Today’s youth have been stereotyped as an ill-guided generation of text addicts, perennial mallers and night hoppers.

Stretched to the extreme, this image has been used to emphasize our supposed lack of discipline, social responsibility, patriotism, etc.

The same line has been used in pushing for the revival of the mandatory Reserved Officers Training Corps (ROTC). The Department of National Defense is now pushing for the amendment of the National Service Training Program for the purpose.

The twisted logic, however, cannot hide the fact that ROTC has never taught the youth discipline, social responsibility and patriotism. It was precisely the lack of discipline in the program that led to the abolition of its mandatory status four years back.

Indeed, some people used the ROTC as milking cow with uniforms and other requirements sold at marked-up prices. Likewise, huge amounts were amassed in bribes from those who would like to avoid the course.

Aside from being anomaly-ridden, the ROTC also violates our civil liberties. Consider the mottos such as “what you see, what you hear, when you go, leave it here” and “obey first before you complain.”

While admittedly our generation is a bit captivated with malling and texting, it is another thing to call us less socially responsible or apathetic. The call for the abolition of ROTC’s mandatory status was first made in the 1960s. Now, who succeeded in putting an end to it?

The youth’s idealism and potentials can be harnessed outside the ambit of an irrelevant, abusive, and essentially fascist program.

Instead of bringing back mandatory ROTC, its proponents should instead lobby for greater state subsidy for education. Such a move will greatly help in promoting social responsibility and nationalism.

The killing of Bicol student leader Cris Hugo last March, the illegal arrest of the PUP central student council chairperson last April and the recent abduction of a community youth leader in Pagadian underscores the government-led violence against the youth.

A mandatory ROTC will only intensify the already horrifying state of civil rights under the Arroyo administration.

By Karlo Mikhail I. Mongaya
Chairperson, Student Council
UP Visayas-Cebu College

Resolution against ROTC

RESOLUTION NUMBER 1 SERIES OF 2006-2007

A RESOLUTION OPPOSING THE PROPOSALS TO MAKE THE RESERVED OFFICER TRAINING CORPS OR ROTC MANDATORY AMONG ALL STUDENTS

Whereas, the ROTC, instead of teaching and upholding discipline, runs counter to the student’s right to freedom of speech by spreading a culture of silence as encapsulated in the military dictum that states “what you see, what you hear, when you go, leave it here;”

Whereas, the ROTC, in direct contradiction to our constitutional right to organize, carries a big role in the military’s setting up of the Student Intelligence Network (SIN) which conducts surveillance and other intelligence operations against progressive student organizations, publications, and councils;

Whereas, the ROTC course, at a time of extreme economic hardship and crisis, burdens the students with added fees, not only for matriculation but also for a complete set of uniform, including combat boots, beret/cap, patches, etc, handouts and manuals - the lack of which is a ground for demerit against the student concerned;

Whereas, the ROTC program with mandatory courses in Military Training Service (MTS) is physically demanding for the UP students who will also have to carry the burden of a tightened four-day class week;

Whereas, the ROTC, contrary to its stated aim of promoting patriotism, runs counter to the foundations of nationalism in the university, namely critical thought and academic freedom by maintaining a culture of harassment and repression as expressed in the military motto that says “obey first before you complain;”

Whereas, the ROTC has resulted in the deaths of our fellow youth, who are supposedly the hope of the nation, namely Samuel Rodico of Luna College – Pangansinan in 2002, Mark Welson Chua of the University of Sto. Tomas in 2001, Arthur Salero of Saint Louis University in 1999, Seth Lopez of De La Salle University in 1996, and many more;

Whereas, the ROTC promotes discrimination, harassment and various forms of physical, verbal and sexual abuse especially against women and the third sex;

Whereas, in practice, the program has become obsolete and at the heart of corruption and incompetence;

Whereas, the intentions provided by the proponents of the mandatory ROTC revival, namely the infusion of discipline, patriotism and preparation for national defense was never attained by the program in the first place as it was tainted by the above-stated grounds;

Therefore be it resolved as it is hereby resolved that the UPVCC Student Council initiate moves that will oppose the proposals to make the ROTC mandatory among all students.

Resolved further, that the fight for greater state subsidy for UP and education be intensified as it is only through such that the strengthening and enhancement of the National Service Training Program (NSTP) can come about.

Resolved finally, that the ROTC be totally abolished to pave the way for a National Service Program that will truly become the expression of nationalism, discipline and social responsibility through activities such as rescue and relief operations, human rights advocacy and fact-finding missions, community immersion, literacy programs, and environmental protection and awareness, etc.

Adopted this 27^th of March, 2006.

Heno Rey Chin
Year Representative
Proponent

Ralph Sanchez
2nd Year Representative
Co-Proponent