The militant organization Anakbayan is trying to discredit the ROTC (Reserve Officers’ Training Corps) program, which is being proposed for revival. Anakbayan is made up of the youth sector of the Communist Party of the Philippines, and if they’d be in school, they would undergo the ROTC training themselves, and this will interfere with their work in Anakbayan.
The group is saying that the implementation of the program will surely result in hazing, torture and mauling of cadets. They point out that hazing continues to be practiced even in prestigious schools although it has already been prohibited. Indeed hazing has resulted in casualties from serious physical injuries sustained during initiation rites.
But times have changed and there are already laws prohibiting the use of hazing. So it would be wrong to conclude that hazing would be part of the ROTC program. We have had a good number of ROTC cadets who have done well in politics, medicine, academe, civil affairs and the like, and they have been the epitome of good public service. ROTC graduates usually develop into noble and dedicated men. And many of them have also made good, not only as soldiers but also as leaders and managers.
The ROTC program is one of the more effective ways our young men can be prepared to serve their country, in a special way, should there be a need for it, and especially when democracy is at risk.
Anakbayan should not look at the ROTC program as forced military training. It is not.
—LTC MIKE S. SOL,
Army reservist,
solmike716@yahoo.com