Having a Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC) training is needed to help prepare Filipinos to fight off attempts to invade the Philippines.
Senator Robin Padilla stressed this at a Senate hearing on bills to include ROTC in higher levels of education.
“Ito ay ginawa natin itong ROTC, huwag po sana tayo sumailalim sa kanino mang foreign power,” the legislator said.
“Hindi tayo utusan ng kahit sinong foreign na bansa.”
“Sana tayo po ay maging independent, hindi tayo utusan ng kahit sinong foreign na bansa, at ginagawa po natin ito sa pagdepensa ng ating independensya, ng ating kalayaan, at higit sa lahat, tayo po ay Pilipino,” the lawmaker said after hearing the positions of youth groups on the matter.
The senator earlier noted that ROTC is also needed to help youths prepare to respond to disasters.
He pointed out the Philippines can never discount the possibility of an invasion on the country because it occupies a very strategic area in Asia.
“Hindi natin ito ginagawa para maging militar ang ating kabataan.”
“Hindi natin ito ginagawa para maging militar ang ating kabataan. Ginagawa natin ito para tayo ay magkaroon ng chain of command para alam natin kung saan natin umpisahan at saan natin tatapusin,” Padilla stressed.
