Why ROTC should be abolished
Position paper submitted to the House Committee on Higher and Technical Education

THE YOUTH youth is sick and tired of the ROTC program.

Since the death of Mark Welson Chua, an ROTC cadet of the University of Sto. Tomas who exposed and complained of corruption and irregularities committed by the administrator of the program, the Student Council Alliance of the Philippines together with its partner organizations under the Abolish ROTC Movement has remain steadfast in our clamor to abolish the rejected, obsolete, tainted and corrupt military science program.

In culmination of the series of walkouts, boycotts and demonstrations we staged in various universities, colleges and other learning institutions, we marched from Commonwealth Avenue to Batasan Complex last July 23 for
The opening of the 12th Congress. Dubbed as "Alay Lakad laban sa ROTC!" the students send a clear message to President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and to our representatives that we want the immediate and unconditional abolition of the ROTC program if we are committed in building new direction for social and education reform.

Fortunately, members of the House of Representative have given attention to the clamor of the students to abolish the ROTC. During the July 31 session of the Congress, Rep. Plaridel Abaya stressed that "the demand are not without merit and have to be weighed against its primary objective." This remark has made us realize that our campaign is not a quixotic crusade but rather an open-ended struggle that needs active participation, policy
engagement, advocacy and lobbying.

Referring to the measures on the ROTC program from July 01 to August 10, 2001, there are a total of six measures read in the first reading and referred to the Committee on Higher and Technical Education for perusal,
decision and deliberation. Among the list includes:

HB 535: An Act Establishing the National Service Training Program (NSTP) for All Higher Education Institutions

HB 607: An Act Establishing an Optional ROTC Program for All Educational Institutions and for Other Purposes

HB 1252: An Act Establishing the National Service Training Program as a Substitute for the Reserved Officers' Training Corps Program, Amending for the Purpose Certain Provisions of the Commonwealth Act No. 1 Otherwise Known as the "National Defense Act", and Republic Act No. 7077, Otherwise Known as the "Citizen Armed Force or the Armed Forces of the Philippines Reservist Act", and for Other Purposes

HB 1253: An Act Suspending the Operation of Republic Act No. 7077, Entitled "Citizen Armed Force or Armed Forces of the Philippines Reservists Act", With Respect to the Provisions on the Reserve Officers' Training Corps Program for the School Years 2001-2002, 2002-2003 and 2003-2004.

HB1684: An Act Making the Reserve Officers' Training Corp (ROTC) Optional for All Students in All Colleges and Universities, Amending Thereby Pertinent Provisions of Republic Act 7077 Otherwise Known as an "Act Providing for the Development, Administration, Organization, Training, Maintenance and Utilization of the Citizen Armed Forces of AFP and for Other Purposes.

HR 0015: Resolution Directing the Appropriate Committee to Conduct an Inquiry in Aid of Legislation into the Proposed Abolition of the Reserved Officers' Training Corps (ROTC) By Rep. Rafael Nantes

HR 0024: Resolution Directing the Appropriate Committee to Conduct an Inquiry in Aid of Legislation into the Proposed Abolition of the Reserved Officers' Training Corps (ROTC) by Rep. Mikhail Abraham Mitra

Now that the Committee on Higher and Technical Education has been constituted, the Student Council Alliance of the Philippines would like to reiterate its fundamental and moral arguments for the abolition of ROTC. Primarily, we would like to convey our position on the issue.

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