Reserve Officers' Training Corps (Philippines)

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Jump to navigationJump to search

A soldier of the 1st Scout Ranger Regiment of the Philippine Army instructs an ROTC cadet officer on the finer
points of the M16 rifle

Reserve Officers' Training Corps (ROTC) in the Philippines is one of three components of
the National Service Training Program, the civic education and defense preparedness program
for Filipino college students.[1] ROTC aims to provide military education and training for students to
mobilize them for national defense preparedness.[2] Its specific objectives include preparation of
college students for service in the Armed Forces of the Philippines in the event of an emergency and
their training to become reservists and potential commissioned officers of the AFP.
Graduates of the ROTC advance program serve in all branches of the Armed Forces of the
Philippines. In 2008, ROTC graduates of the officer candidate schools of the various services
constituted roughly 75% of the AFP officer corps.[3] The ROTC grants qualified student-cadets
scholarship benefits through a merit-based incentive program in return for an obligation of military
service in the reserve force, or active duty in the AFP if given the opportunity, after graduation.
ROTC student-cadets attend college like other students, but also receive basic military training and
officer training from the branch of service that handles their school's ROTC unit. The students
participate in regular ROTC instruction during the school year (one school year for Basic ROTC
student-cadets and three school years for Advance ROTC cadet-officers), and extended training
activities during the summer, such as the ROTC Summer Camp Training (RSCT) and the Advance
ROTC Academic Phase Training (ARAPT).
ROTC units in colleges and universities are organized through the Department of Military Science
and Tactics (DMST) which is under joint supervision by the school administration and
the Department of National Defense. These ROTC units are in turn managed by active duty officers
of the AFP and the reservist organization representatives of the major services, the Philippine Army
Reserve Command of the Philippine Army, the Philippine Navy Reserve Command of the Philippine
Navy and the Philippine Air Force Reserve Command of the Philippine Air Force.

Contents

 1Nomenclature
  2History
o 2.1National Defense Act of 1935
o 2.2World War II
o 2.3Post-World War II
o 2.4Republic Act 7077
 3Controversy
o 3.1Republic Act 9163
 4Impact on Philippine society
o 4.1Armed Forces of the Philippines
o 4.2Post-2001 ROTC Controversy
 5Proposals for and against mandatory implementation
 6Notable Philippine ROTC units
 7In film
 8See also
 9References

Nomenclature[edit]
Commonwealth Act No. 1, the National Defense Act of 1935, referred to the ROTC as the "Reserve
Officers Training Corps",[4] whereas Republic Act No. 7077, the Citizen Armed Forces of the
Philippines Reservist Act of 1991, referred to the ROTC as the "Reserve Officers' Training
Corps",[5] ascribing the possessive form to the word "officers". Republic Act No. 9163, the National
Service Training Program Act of 2001 likewise uses the same possessive form as RA 7077.[1]

History[edit]
See also: University of the Philippines ROTC
ROTC in the Philippines began in 1912 when the Philippine Constabulary commenced with military
instruction at the University of the Philippines. The university's Board of Regents then made
representations to the United States Department of War through the Governor-General and received
the services of a United States Army officer who took on the duties of a professor of Military Science.
Through this arrangement, the first official ROTC unit in the Philippines was established in the
University of the Philippines on 3 July 1922.[6]
In 1921, National University became the first private college in the Philippines to have an ROTC unit.
Later in the same year, Ateneo de Manila University, Liceo de Manila, and Colegio de San Juan de
Letran soon followed suit and organized their own respective ROTC units. In 1936, the Office of the
Superintendent for ROTC Units under the Philippine Army was activated to supervise all ROTC units
in the country.[6]
National Defense Act of 1935[edit]
President Manuel Quezon controlled the National Assembly which enacted the National Defense Act of 1935

President Ferdinand Marcos issued Presidential Decree No. 1706 in 1980

President Corazon Aquino signed Republic Act 7077 into law in 1991

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo signed Republic Act 9163 into law in 2002

Main article: National Defense Act of 1935

President Manuel L. Quezon issued Executive Order No. 207 in 1939 in order to implement the
National Defense Act of 1935, otherwise known as Commonwealth Act No. 1,[4] the embodiment of
the national defense plan formulated by General Douglas MacArthur for the Philippine
Commonwealth. This executive order made ROTC obligatory at all colleges and universities with a
total enrollment of 100 students and greater. This measure was made in order to help fill out the
reserve force requirement of 400,000 men by 1946 and especially for junior reserve officers.[7]
World War II[edit]
Main article: Military history of the Philippines during World War II
At the onset of World War II in 1941, thirty-three colleges and universities in the Philippines had
organized ROTC units, the cadets and officers of which would see action for the first time. Elements
from different ROTC units in Metro Manila took part in the Battle of Bataan. ROTC cadets of Silliman
University in the Visayas made up 45% of the strength of the 75th Infantry Regiment of the United
States Army Forces in the Far East (USAFFE). Volunteers from the Philippine Military Academy and
various other ROTC units formed the Hunters ROTC guerrilla group, which took part in
the resistance movement during the Japanese occupation after the last American and Filipino forces
had surrendered.[6]
Post-World War II[edit]
On 13 September 1946, Philippine Army Headquarters reactivated the pre-war ROTC units. The
Philippine Army became the Armed Forces of the Philippines on 23 December 1950, at which time
the Philippines was divided into four military areas and ROTC units operating within these areas fell
under the supervision of their respective Area Commanders. On 8 February 1967,
President Ferdinand Marcos rescinded Executive Order No. 207 of 1939, promulgating Executive
Order No. 59 in its place. This executive order made ROTC mandatory at all colleges, universities
and other institutions with an enrollment of 250 male students and greater.[6] President Marcos also
issued Presidential Decree No. 1706, otherwise known as the "National Service Law", on 8 August
1980. It made national service obligatory for all Filipino citizens and specified three categories of
national service: civic welfare service, law enforcement service and military service.[8]
Republic Act 7077[edit]
Republic Act 7077, otherwise known as the "Citizen Armed Forces of the Philippines Reservist Act",
was enacted by the 8th Congress of the Philippines on 27 June 1991. The Reservist Act provided for
organization, training and utilization of reservists, referred to in the Act as "Citizen Soldiers". The
primary pool of manpower for the reservist organization are graduates of the ROTC basic and
advance courses.[5]

Controversy[edit]
Main article: Death of Mark Chua
A period of discontent over ROTC's conduct and the corruption that often plagued its individual units
had long been fermenting prior to 2000. Filipino student websites often contain
short essays regarding the alleged pointlessness of the program. Student groups would occasionally
include ROTC in their roster of grievances, whereas lawmakers would introduce resolutions intended
to abolish ROTC.[9]
Into this national mood of resentment fell a tragedy that would have a significant impact on the
Philippine ROTC program. Mark Welson Chua, a student of the University of Santo Tomas and a
member of the UST ROTC unit, was found dead, his body floating in the Pasig River on 18 March
2001. Prior to his death, he and another student had reported an account of alleged corruption within
the UST ROTC unit to the school's student publication.[10] The National Bureau of Investigation would
later conclude that members of the UST ROTC unit were responsible for Chua's death.[11] One of the
suspects would be sentenced to death three years later.[12]
The incident set off an explosion of anti-ROTC sentiment as student associations, school
administrators and other cause-oriented groups focused on protests and parliamentary approaches
to the matter. The Congress of the Philippines took up the legal challenge; generating no less than
seventeen bills and resolutions in both houses of Congress, in response to the clamor. Many of the
bills mentioned Mark Chua in the text, acknowledging his death as the catalyst for reform.[13]
Republic Act 9163[edit]
Main article: National Service Training Program
Republic Act 9163, otherwise known as the "National Service Training Program (NSTP) Act of
2001", was Congress' answer to the clamor for change in the ROTC program. It was promulgated by
the 12th Congress of the Philippines on 23 January 2002. Under the NSTP Program, both male and
female college students of any baccalaureate degree course or technical vocational course in public
or private educational institutions are obliged to undergo one of three program components, one of
which is ROTC, for an academic period of two semesters. However, ROTC as a pre-requisite for
graduation was rescinded.[1]

Impact on Philippine society[edit]

The ROTC program of the Philippines was for many decades a compelling aspect affecting the lives
of male youths, especially those who went in pursuit of college education. It was also a significant
contributor to the officer corps of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP).
Armed Forces of the Philippines[edit]
Composition of the Armed Forces of the Philippines Officer Corps as of 2008.

ROTC graduates (75%)

PMA graduates (25%)

As of 2008, ROTC graduates of the officer candidate schools of the various services constituted
roughly 75% of the AFP officer corps; the rest come from the ranks of the Philippine Military
Academy.[3] Among the more prominent graduates of the Philippine ROTC program are Gen. Alfredo
M. Santos, Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines from 1962 to 1965 and the first four-
star general of the AFP, Gen. Rigoberto J. Atienza, 9th Chief of Staff of the AFP and for
whom Camp Atienza in Quezon City is named, and Gen. Romeo C. Espino, the longest-serving AFP
Chief of Staff who served from January 15, 1972 to Aug. 16, 1981.[3] Gen. Santos was a civil
engineering graduate of Mapua Institute of Technology and was the Corp Commander of the Mapua
Institute of Technology Reserve Officers' Training Corps; Gen. Atienza, a civil engineering graduate
of the University of the Philippines, and Gen. Espino an agriculture graduate of University of the
Philippines Los Baños.[3] Another notable ROTC graduate was Gen. Fabian C. Ver, AFP Chief of
Staff under Ferdinand Marcos and director general of the National Intelligence and Security
Authority.[3]
Post-2001 ROTC Controversy[edit]
ROTC enrollment before and after 2001

School Year Students enrolled in ROTC

1999-2000 800,000

2011-2012 150,000

School participation in the ROTC program

 Year Schools with active ROTC programs

Pre-2001 200,000

2011 500

At present, ROTC is no longer a mandatory program for college students, but an optional program
component of the NSTP. The ROTC program accepts both male and female cadets. According to
the latest available data, there has been a significant reduction in the number of students enrolling in
ROTC. From more than 800,000 enrolled cadets during the 1999-2000 school year, ROTC
enrollment has dropped to 150,000 as of 2011. During the first quarter of 2011, 500 colleges and
universities were participating in the ROTC program. This is a sharp decline from the 200,000
schools offering ROTC before the National Service Training Program was enforced.[14]
According to the Commission on Higher Education, the ROTC component of NSTP has produced
1,435,000 graduates over a ten-year period from 2002 to 2012. In comparison, the CWTS and LTS
components of NSTP has produced 8,614,000 and 538,700 graduates respectively.[15]

Proposals for and against mandatory implementation[edit]

A comparison of the number of ROTC graduates against other NSTP component graduates, 2002-2012

NSTP Component No. of Graduates

CWTS 8,614,000

LTS 538,700

ROTC 1,435,000

In 2006, Alfredo Lim sponsored Senate Bill 2224 and Representative Eduardo Gullas sponsored
House Bill 5460, seeking to make ROTC again mandatory.[16] In June 2013, Department of National
Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin aired a proposal to make ROTC once again mandatory for
college students, a move ardently being protested by progressive youth groups such
as Anakbayan.[17] There have also been reports of schools offering merchant marine courses that
want to retain the ROTC program as mandatory, arguing that maritime companies prefer mariners
with ROTC training.[18]
Members of the House of Representatives of the 16th Congress of the Philippines have filed at least
six house bills related to the ROTC program. Congressmen Francis Abaya,[19] Rodolfo
Biazon,[20] Erico Aumentado,[21] Sherwin Gatchalian[22] and Manny Pacquiao[23] have proposed
reinstating the mandatory nature of ROTC training, while Kabataan Party-list representative Terry
Ridon[24] has proposed the outright abolishment of the program.
In February 2017, President Rodrigo Duterte approved the proposal to revive the mandatory nature
of ROTC training for senior high school students in both public and private schools. Duterte certified
the proposal as urgent and forwarded it to the Congress of the Philippines - House of
Representatives (Lower House) and Senate (Upper House).[25] On 21 May 2019, the Lower House
passed their version of the proposed law.[26] Some camps have criticized Duterte's inclination on this
issue for admitting in a speech in 2016 that he himself did not finish his supposed ROTC service
during his university days [27], and two years later, expounded that he even falsified medical
documents to be able to do so. [28][29][30]

Notable Philippine ROTC units[edit]

 Mapúa Institute of Technology ROTC Unit
 University of Santo Tomas Golden Corps of Cadets
 University of the Philippines ROTC Unit

In film[edit]
 US National Archives. "Military Activities in the Philippines, 1917-
1930". Youtube video, 13:15. Posted [March 2016]. This American
newsreel shows the Ateneo Municipal de Manila (A.M.M.) cadet
corps beside Intramuros. The Luneta parade took place in 1929.
 PeriscopeFilm. "Peoples of the Philippines 1940s Travelogue Movie
Part 1 Manila 20784". Youtube video, 29:06. Posted [May 2017].
This Canadian travelogue shows UP cadets in khaki, and the
Ateneo cadet corps wearing white uniforms which resemble late-
nineteenth-century Spanish army white tropical uniforms.
 AP Archive. "War in the Philippines—No Sound" (Story No. 42171-
2). 1942. This British Movietone newsreel shows the UP cadet
corps training beside Intramuros.
 AP Archive. "War in the Philippines—No Sound" (Story No. 42171-
3). 1942. This British Movietone newsreel Shows the UP cadet
corps training beside Intramuros.
 Nederlands Instituut voor Beeld en Geluid. "De Philippijnen (1948)".
Youtube video, 1:31. Posted [November 2013]. This Dutch newsreel
shows the UP cadet corps drilling.
 Noticiarios y Documentales Cinematográficos N° 532 A
"Hermandad Hispano-Filipina". This Spanish newsreel shows UST
cadets.
 R.O.T.C. 1955. Shows UP cadets.
 The Hot Box. 1972. This American B-movie used Dumaguete City
ROTC cadets as extras.
 Kung Aagawin Mo Ang Lahat Sa Akin. 1987. Shows UST cadet
corps.
 Titser's Enemi No.1. 1990. Shows ROTC cadets.
 Tora Tora Bang Bang Bang. 1990. Shows UP DCMT.
 Mga Siyanong Parak. 1993. Shows UP DMST.
 Maalaala Mo Kaya. "Punda." 2006. Episode about Nene Tamayo, a
former ROTC cadet.
 Maalaala Mo Kaya. "Application Form." 2007. Episode shows
ROTC cadets.
 Hiwaga. 1 November 2013. Episode shows UP DMST.
 Esprit de Corps. 2014. About ROTC cadets at a fictitious college.
See also[edit]
 Conscription in the Philippines
 Reserve Officer Training Unit (Malaysia)
 Reserve Officers' Training Corps (South Korea)
 Reserve Officers' Training Corps (Taiwan)
 University Regiments (Australia)
 Officers' Training Corps (United Kingdom)
 Reserve Officers' Training Corps (United States)

References[edit]
1. ^ Jump up to:a b c 12th Congress of the Republic of the
Philippines. "RA 9163". Retrieved 28 June 2013.
2. ^ Labuguen, Florida C.; et al. (2012). Understanding the National
Service Training Program. Mutya Publishing House. p. 11. ISBN 978-
971-821-289-9.
3. ^ Jump up to:a b c d e Farolan, Ramon J. "Men of the ROTC". Archived
from the original on 1 July 2013. Retrieved 1 July 2013.
4. ^ Jump up to:a b National Assembly of the Philippines. "CA No. 1".
Retrieved 28 June 2013.
5. ^ Jump up to:a b 8th Congress of the Republic to the Philippines. "RA
7077". Retrieved 28 June 2013.
6. ^ Jump up to:a b c d Syjuco, José G. (1977). Military Education in the
Philippines. New Day Publishers.
7. ^ Morton, Louis. "The Fall of the Philippines". Retrieved 29 June 2013.
8. ^ Ferdinand E. Marcos. "PD No. 1706". Retrieved 28 June2013.
9. ^ "The ROTC Crisis of 2001". Retrieved 28 June 2013.
10. ^ Pangalangan, Raul. "Mandatory ROTC? Remember Mark Chua".
Archived from the original on 31 July 2013. Retrieved 29 June 2013.
11. ^ Aravilla, Jose. "4 more suspects tagged in Mark Chua slay case".
Retrieved 26 June 2013.
12. ^ Requinta, Elka Krystle R. "Mark Chua's killer gets death".
Retrieved 29 June 2013.
13. ^ Philippine Army. "History of ROTC". Retrieved 29 June 2013.
14. ^ President Benigno Aquino III. "Speech of President Aquino at the
17th national convention of the National ROTC Alumni Association,
May 25, 2012". Retrieved 28 June 2013.
15. ^ Liveta, Ronaldo A. (April 28, 2015). "NSTP-NSRC Updates and
Challenges". 13th National Congress of NSTP Educators and
Implementors. Philippine Society of NSTP Educators and
Implementors.
16. ^ Zofia Leal. "Patriotism is Dead? Senator blames it on lack of ROTC
reservists". Retrieved 1 July 2013.
17. ^ Manalo, Charlie V. (18 June 2013). "Youth group bucks proposal to
revive mandatory ROTC". The Daily Tribune. Retrieved 1 July 2013.
18. ^ de la Torre, AJ (23 June 2013). "Naval officer says ROTC should still
be offered in schools". The Philippine Star. Retrieved 1 July 2013.
19. ^ Abaya, Francis Gerald Aguinaldo. ""An Act Reinstating the
Mandatory Reserve Officers' Training Corps (ROTC) for Students in
All Public and Private Universities, Colleges and Similar Learning
Institutions"" (PDF). Archived from the original(PDF) on 5 March 2016.
Retrieved 1 May 2015.
 20. ^ Biazon, Rodolfo G. ""An Act Amending Republic Act Numbered
9163, Otherwise Known as the 'National Service Training Program Act
of 2001', and for Other Purposes"" (PDF). Archived from the
original (PDF) on 13 February 2014. Retrieved 1 May 2015.
21. ^ Aumentado, Erico Aristotle C. ""An Act Reinstating the Mandatory
Reserve Officers' Training Corps (ROTC) for Students in All Public and
Private Universities, Colleges and Similar Learning Institutions"" (PDF).
Archived from the original(PDF) on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 1
May 2015.
22. ^ Gatchalian, Sherwin T. ""An Act to Re-institutionalize the Mandatory
Military and Civic Reserve Officers' Training Corps (ROTC) for
Students in All Colleges, Universities and Technical or Vocational
Schools"" (PDF). Archived from the original(PDF) on 4 March 2016.
Retrieved 1 May 2015.
23. ^ Pacquiao, Emmanuel D. ""An Act Providing for the Restoration of
Mandatory Military Training for Students in All Colleges and
Universities by Reinstating Sections 38 and 39 of Republic Act No.
7077, Otherwise Known as the 'Citizen Armed Force or Armed Forces
of the Philippines Reservist Act'"" (PDF). Archived from the
original (PDF) on 2 July 2014. Retrieved 1 May 2015.
24. ^ Ridon, Terry L. ""An Act Abolishing the Reserve Officers Training
Corps and Strengthening the Social and Civic Service Components of
the National Service Training Program Through the Establishment of
Additional Social and Civic Service Programs Available to Students by
Amending and Expanding the Scope of Republic Act 9163 or the
National Service Training Program (NSTP) Act of 2001"" (PDF).
Archived from the original (PDF) on 13 February 2014. Retrieved 1
May 2015.
25. ^ Corrales, Nestor (February 7, 2017). "Duterte approves revival of
mandatory ROTC for Grades 11, 12". Philippine Daily Inquirer.
Retrieved February 7, 2017.
26. ^ CNN Philippines Staff (May 20, 2019). "House OKs bill on
mandatory ROTC for senior high students". CNN Philippines.
Retrieved May 21, 2019.
27. ^ The Philippine Star (August 4, 2016). "Duterte admits not finishing
ROTC course". The Philippine Star. Retrieved May 21,2019.
28. ^ Ranada, Pia (July 15, 2017). "Duterte shares the trick that got him
out of ROTC". Rappler. Retrieved May 21, 2019.
29. ^ "Revive ROTC? Netizens remind Duterte: You faked your way
through training". Politico: The bible of Philippine Politics. November
24, 2018. Retrieved May 21, 2019.
30. ^ Malasig, Jeline (November 23, 2018). "Why Duterte's desire to make
ROTC mandatory for 'patriotism' contradicts his actions". Interaksyon.
Retrieved May 21, 2019.

hide

Military of the Philippines

and Headquarters Service Command (GHQ-HSC)

Group (PSG)
 ademy (PMA)

hilippines Command and General Staff College (AFPCGSC)

hilippines Reserve Command (AFPRESCOM)

mand (NOLCOM)

mand (SOLCOM)

- National Capital Region (JTF-NCR)

ENTCOM)

WESCOM)

mmand (EASTMINCOM)

mmand (WESTMINCOM)

ns Command (AFPSOCOM)
erations Center (PKOC)

Defense

of the Army

and

of the Air Force

arine Corps

and (ARESCOM)

Reserve Command

d Training Command

ps

ve Command

d Auxiliary

ar

War

eedom

See also: Reserve Officers' Training Corps • Military Ordinariate of the Philippines
Categories:
  Military education and training in the Philippines
 Reserve Officers' Training Corps (Philippines)
 Military officer training
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Reserve Officers' Training Corps (Philippines)

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Jump to navigationJump to search

A soldier of the 1st Scout Ranger Regiment of the Philippine Army instructs an ROTC cadet officer on the finer
points of the M16 rifle

Reserve Officers' Training Corps (ROTC) in the Philippines is one of three components of
the National Service Training Program, the civic education and defense preparedness program
for Filipino college students.[1] ROTC aims to provide military education and training for students to
mobilize them for national defense preparedness.[2] Its specific objectives include preparation of
college students for service in the Armed Forces of the Philippines in the event of an emergency and
their training to become reservists and potential commissioned officers of the AFP.
Graduates of the ROTC advance program serve in all branches of the Armed Forces of the
Philippines. In 2008, ROTC graduates of the officer candidate schools of the various services
constituted roughly 75% of the AFP officer corps.[3] The ROTC grants qualified student-cadets
scholarship benefits through a merit-based incentive program in return for an obligation of military
service in the reserve force, or active duty in the AFP if given the opportunity, after graduation.
ROTC student-cadets attend college like other students, but also receive basic military training and
officer training from the branch of service that handles their school's ROTC unit. The students
participate in regular ROTC instruction during the school year (one school year for Basic ROTC
student-cadets and three school years for Advance ROTC cadet-officers), and extended training
activities during the summer, such as the ROTC Summer Camp Training (RSCT) and the Advance
ROTC Academic Phase Training (ARAPT).
ROTC units in colleges and universities are organized through the Department of Military Science
and Tactics (DMST) which is under joint supervision by the school administration and
the Department of National Defense. These ROTC units are in turn managed by active duty officers
of the AFP and the reservist organization representatives of the major services, the Philippine Army
Reserve Command of the Philippine Army, the Philippine Navy Reserve Command of the Philippine
Navy and the Philippine Air Force Reserve Command of the Philippine Air Force.

Contents

 1Nomenclature
 2History
o 2.1National Defense Act of 1935
o 2.2World War II
o 2.3Post-World War II
o 2.4Republic Act 7077
 3Controversy
o 3.1Republic Act 9163
 4Impact on Philippine society
o 4.1Armed Forces of the Philippines
o 4.2Post-2001 ROTC Controversy
 5Proposals for and against mandatory implementation
 6Notable Philippine ROTC units
 7In film
 8See also
 9References

Nomenclature[edit]
Commonwealth Act No. 1, the National Defense Act of 1935, referred to the ROTC as the "Reserve
Officers Training Corps",[4] whereas Republic Act No. 7077, the Citizen Armed Forces of the
Philippines Reservist Act of 1991, referred to the ROTC as the "Reserve Officers' Training
Corps",[5] ascribing the possessive form to the word "officers". Republic Act No. 9163, the National
Service Training Program Act of 2001 likewise uses the same possessive form as RA 7077.[1]

History[edit]
See also: University of the Philippines ROTC
ROTC in the Philippines began in 1912 when the Philippine Constabulary commenced with military
instruction at the University of the Philippines. The university's Board of Regents then made
representations to the United States Department of War through the Governor-General and received
the services of a United States Army officer who took on the duties of a professor of Military Science.
Through this arrangement, the first official ROTC unit in the Philippines was established in the
University of the Philippines on 3 July 1922.[6]
In 1921, National University became the first private college in the Philippines to have an ROTC unit.
Later in the same year, Ateneo de Manila University, Liceo de Manila, and Colegio de San Juan de
Letran soon followed suit and organized their own respective ROTC units. In 1936, the Office of the
Superintendent for ROTC Units under the Philippine Army was activated to supervise all ROTC units
in the country.[6]
National Defense Act of 1935[edit]

President Manuel Quezon controlled the National Assembly which enacted the National Defense Act of 1935

President Ferdinand Marcos issued Presidential Decree No. 1706 in 1980

President Corazon Aquino signed Republic Act 7077 into law in 1991

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo signed Republic Act 9163 into law in 2002

Main article: National Defense Act of 1935

President Manuel L. Quezon issued Executive Order No. 207 in 1939 in order to implement the
National Defense Act of 1935, otherwise known as Commonwealth Act No. 1,[4] the embodiment of
the national defense plan formulated by General Douglas MacArthur for the Philippine
Commonwealth. This executive order made ROTC obligatory at all colleges and universities with a
total enrollment of 100 students and greater. This measure was made in order to help fill out the
reserve force requirement of 400,000 men by 1946 and especially for junior reserve officers.[7]
World War II[edit]
Main article: Military history of the Philippines during World War II
At the onset of World War II in 1941, thirty-three colleges and universities in the Philippines had
organized ROTC units, the cadets and officers of which would see action for the first time. Elements
from different ROTC units in Metro Manila took part in the Battle of Bataan. ROTC cadets of Silliman
University in the Visayas made up 45% of the strength of the 75th Infantry Regiment of the United
States Army Forces in the Far East (USAFFE). Volunteers from the Philippine Military Academy and
various other ROTC units formed the Hunters ROTC guerrilla group, which took part in
the resistance movement during the Japanese occupation after the last American and Filipino forces
had surrendered.[6]
Post-World War II[edit]
On 13 September 1946, Philippine Army Headquarters reactivated the pre-war ROTC units. The
Philippine Army became the Armed Forces of the Philippines on 23 December 1950, at which time
the Philippines was divided into four military areas and ROTC units operating within these areas fell
under the supervision of their respective Area Commanders. On 8 February 1967,
President Ferdinand Marcos rescinded Executive Order No. 207 of 1939, promulgating Executive
Order No. 59 in its place. This executive order made ROTC mandatory at all colleges, universities
and other institutions with an enrollment of 250 male students and greater.[6] President Marcos also
issued Presidential Decree No. 1706, otherwise known as the "National Service Law", on 8 August
1980. It made national service obligatory for all Filipino citizens and specified three categories of
national service: civic welfare service, law enforcement service and military service.[8]
Republic Act 7077[edit]
Republic Act 7077, otherwise known as the "Citizen Armed Forces of the Philippines Reservist Act",
was enacted by the 8th Congress of the Philippines on 27 June 1991. The Reservist Act provided for
organization, training and utilization of reservists, referred to in the Act as "Citizen Soldiers". The
primary pool of manpower for the reservist organization are graduates of the ROTC basic and
advance courses.[5]

Controversy[edit]
Main article: Death of Mark Chua
A period of discontent over ROTC's conduct and the corruption that often plagued its individual units
had long been fermenting prior to 2000. Filipino student websites often contain
short essays regarding the alleged pointlessness of the program. Student groups would occasionally
include ROTC in their roster of grievances, whereas lawmakers would introduce resolutions intended
to abolish ROTC.[9]
Into this national mood of resentment fell a tragedy that would have a significant impact on the
Philippine ROTC program. Mark Welson Chua, a student of the University of Santo Tomas and a
member of the UST ROTC unit, was found dead, his body floating in the Pasig River on 18 March
2001. Prior to his death, he and another student had reported an account of alleged corruption within
the UST ROTC unit to the school's student publication.[10] The National Bureau of Investigation would
later conclude that members of the UST ROTC unit were responsible for Chua's death.[11] One of the
suspects would be sentenced to death three years later.[12]
The incident set off an explosion of anti-ROTC sentiment as student associations, school
administrators and other cause-oriented groups focused on protests and parliamentary approaches
to the matter. The Congress of the Philippines took up the legal challenge; generating no less than
seventeen bills and resolutions in both houses of Congress, in response to the clamor. Many of the
bills mentioned Mark Chua in the text, acknowledging his death as the catalyst for reform.[13]
Republic Act 9163[edit]
Main article: National Service Training Program
Republic Act 9163, otherwise known as the "National Service Training Program (NSTP) Act of
2001", was Congress' answer to the clamor for change in the ROTC program. It was promulgated by
the 12th Congress of the Philippines on 23 January 2002. Under the NSTP Program, both male and
female college students of any baccalaureate degree course or technical vocational course in public
or private educational institutions are obliged to undergo one of three program components, one of
which is ROTC, for an academic period of two semesters. However, ROTC as a pre-requisite for
graduation was rescinded.[1]

Impact on Philippine society[edit]

The ROTC program of the Philippines was for many decades a compelling aspect affecting the lives
of male youths, especially those who went in pursuit of college education. It was also a significant
contributor to the officer corps of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP).
Armed Forces of the Philippines[edit]
Composition of the Armed Forces of the Philippines Officer Corps as of 2008.

ROTC graduates (75%)

PMA graduates (25%)

As of 2008, ROTC graduates of the officer candidate schools of the various services constituted
roughly 75% of the AFP officer corps; the rest come from the ranks of the Philippine Military
Academy.[3] Among the more prominent graduates of the Philippine ROTC program are Gen. Alfredo
M. Santos, Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines from 1962 to 1965 and the first four-
star general of the AFP, Gen. Rigoberto J. Atienza, 9th Chief of Staff of the AFP and for
whom Camp Atienza in Quezon City is named, and Gen. Romeo C. Espino, the longest-serving AFP
Chief of Staff who served from January 15, 1972 to Aug. 16, 1981.[3] Gen. Santos was a civil
engineering graduate of Mapua Institute of Technology and was the Corp Commander of the Mapua
Institute of Technology Reserve Officers' Training Corps; Gen. Atienza, a civil engineering graduate
of the University of the Philippines, and Gen. Espino an agriculture graduate of University of the
Philippines Los Baños.[3] Another notable ROTC graduate was Gen. Fabian C. Ver, AFP Chief of
Staff under Ferdinand Marcos and director general of the National Intelligence and Security
Authority.[3]
Post-2001 ROTC Controversy[edit]
ROTC enrollment before and after 2001

School Year Students enrolled in ROTC

1999-2000 800,000

2011-2012 150,000

School participation in the ROTC program

Year Schools with active ROTC programs

Pre-2001 200,000

2011 500

At present, ROTC is no longer a mandatory program for college students, but an optional program
component of the NSTP. The ROTC program accepts both male and female cadets. According to
the latest available data, there has been a significant reduction in the number of students enrolling in
ROTC. From more than 800,000 enrolled cadets during the 1999-2000 school year, ROTC
enrollment has dropped to 150,000 as of 2011. During the first quarter of 2011, 500 colleges and
universities were participating in the ROTC program. This is a sharp decline from the 200,000
schools offering ROTC before the National Service Training Program was enforced.[14]
According to the Commission on Higher Education, the ROTC component of NSTP has produced
1,435,000 graduates over a ten-year period from 2002 to 2012. In comparison, the CWTS and LTS
components of NSTP has produced 8,614,000 and 538,700 graduates respectively.[15]

Proposals for and against mandatory implementation[edit]

A comparison of the number of ROTC graduates against other NSTP component graduates, 2002-2012

NSTP Component No. of Graduates

CWTS 8,614,000

LTS 538,700

ROTC 1,435,000

In 2006, Alfredo Lim sponsored Senate Bill 2224 and Representative Eduardo Gullas sponsored
House Bill 5460, seeking to make ROTC again mandatory.[16] In June 2013, Department of National
Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin aired a proposal to make ROTC once again mandatory for
college students, a move ardently being protested by progressive youth groups such
as Anakbayan.[17] There have also been reports of schools offering merchant marine courses that
want to retain the ROTC program as mandatory, arguing that maritime companies prefer mariners
with ROTC training.[18]
Members of the House of Representatives of the 16th Congress of the Philippines have filed at least
six house bills related to the ROTC program. Congressmen Francis Abaya,[19] Rodolfo
Biazon,[20] Erico Aumentado,[21] Sherwin Gatchalian[22] and Manny Pacquiao[23] have proposed
reinstating the mandatory nature of ROTC training, while Kabataan Party-list representative Terry
Ridon[24] has proposed the outright abolishment of the program.
In February 2017, President Rodrigo Duterte approved the proposal to revive the mandatory nature
of ROTC training for senior high school students in both public and private schools. Duterte certified
the proposal as urgent and forwarded it to the Congress of the Philippines - House of
Representatives (Lower House) and Senate (Upper House).[25] On 21 May 2019, the Lower House
passed their version of the proposed law.[26] Some camps have criticized Duterte's inclination on this
issue for admitting in a speech in 2016 that he himself did not finish his supposed ROTC service
during his university days [27], and two years later, expounded that he even falsified medical
documents to be able to do so. [28][29][30]

Notable Philippine ROTC units[edit]

 Mapúa Institute of Technology ROTC Unit
 University of Santo Tomas Golden Corps of Cadets
 University of the Philippines ROTC Unit
In film[edit]
 US National Archives. "Military Activities in the Philippines, 1917-
1930". Youtube video, 13:15. Posted [March 2016]. This American
newsreel shows the Ateneo Municipal de Manila (A.M.M.) cadet
corps beside Intramuros. The Luneta parade took place in 1929.
 PeriscopeFilm. "Peoples of the Philippines 1940s Travelogue Movie
Part 1 Manila 20784". Youtube video, 29:06. Posted [May 2017].
This Canadian travelogue shows UP cadets in khaki, and the
Ateneo cadet corps wearing white uniforms which resemble late-
nineteenth-century Spanish army white tropical uniforms.
 AP Archive. "War in the Philippines—No Sound" (Story No. 42171-
2). 1942. This British Movietone newsreel shows the UP cadet
corps training beside Intramuros.
 AP Archive. "War in the Philippines—No Sound" (Story No. 42171-
3). 1942. This British Movietone newsreel Shows the UP cadet
corps training beside Intramuros.
 Nederlands Instituut voor Beeld en Geluid. "De Philippijnen (1948)".
Youtube video, 1:31. Posted [November 2013]. This Dutch newsreel
shows the UP cadet corps drilling.
 Noticiarios y Documentales Cinematográficos N° 532 A
"Hermandad Hispano-Filipina". This Spanish newsreel shows UST
cadets.
 R.O.T.C. 1955. Shows UP cadets.
 The Hot Box. 1972. This American B-movie used Dumaguete City
ROTC cadets as extras.
 Kung Aagawin Mo Ang Lahat Sa Akin. 1987. Shows UST cadet
corps.
 Titser's Enemi No.1. 1990. Shows ROTC cadets.
 Tora Tora Bang Bang Bang. 1990. Shows UP DCMT.
 Mga Siyanong Parak. 1993. Shows UP DMST.
 Maalaala Mo Kaya. "Punda." 2006. Episode about Nene Tamayo, a
former ROTC cadet.
 Maalaala Mo Kaya. "Application Form." 2007. Episode shows
ROTC cadets.
 Hiwaga. 1 November 2013. Episode shows UP DMST.
 Esprit de Corps. 2014. About ROTC cadets at a fictitious college.

See also[edit]
 Conscription in the Philippines
 Reserve Officer Training Unit (Malaysia)
 Reserve Officers' Training Corps (South Korea)
 Reserve Officers' Training Corps (Taiwan)
 University Regiments (Australia)
 Officers' Training Corps (United Kingdom)
 Reserve Officers' Training Corps (United States)

References[edit]
1. ^ Jump up to:a b c 12th Congress of the Republic of the
Philippines. "RA 9163". Retrieved 28 June 2013.
2. ^ Labuguen, Florida C.; et al. (2012). Understanding the National
Service Training Program. Mutya Publishing House. p. 11. ISBN 978-
971-821-289-9.
3. ^ Jump up to:a b c d e Farolan, Ramon J. "Men of the ROTC". Archived
from the original on 1 July 2013. Retrieved 1 July 2013.
4. ^ Jump up to:a b National Assembly of the Philippines. "CA No. 1".
Retrieved 28 June 2013.
5. ^ Jump up to:a b 8th Congress of the Republic to the Philippines. "RA
7077". Retrieved 28 June 2013.
6. ^ Jump up to:a b c d Syjuco, José G. (1977). Military Education in the
Philippines. New Day Publishers.
7. ^ Morton, Louis. "The Fall of the Philippines". Retrieved 29 June 2013.
8. ^ Ferdinand E. Marcos. "PD No. 1706". Retrieved 28 June2013.
9. ^ "The ROTC Crisis of 2001". Retrieved 28 June 2013.
10. ^ Pangalangan, Raul. "Mandatory ROTC? Remember Mark Chua".
Archived from the original on 31 July 2013. Retrieved 29 June 2013.
11. ^ Aravilla, Jose. "4 more suspects tagged in Mark Chua slay case".
Retrieved 26 June 2013.
12. ^ Requinta, Elka Krystle R. "Mark Chua's killer gets death".
Retrieved 29 June 2013.
13. ^ Philippine Army. "History of ROTC". Retrieved 29 June 2013.
14. ^ President Benigno Aquino III. "Speech of President Aquino at the
17th national convention of the National ROTC Alumni Association,
May 25, 2012". Retrieved 28 June 2013.
15. ^ Liveta, Ronaldo A. (April 28, 2015). "NSTP-NSRC Updates and
Challenges". 13th National Congress of NSTP Educators and
Implementors. Philippine Society of NSTP Educators and
Implementors.
16. ^ Zofia Leal. "Patriotism is Dead? Senator blames it on lack of ROTC
reservists". Retrieved 1 July 2013.
17. ^ Manalo, Charlie V. (18 June 2013). "Youth group bucks proposal to
revive mandatory ROTC". The Daily Tribune. Retrieved 1 July 2013.
18. ^ de la Torre, AJ (23 June 2013). "Naval officer says ROTC should still
be offered in schools". The Philippine Star. Retrieved 1 July 2013.
19. ^ Abaya, Francis Gerald Aguinaldo. ""An Act Reinstating the
Mandatory Reserve Officers' Training Corps (ROTC) for Students in
All Public and Private Universities, Colleges and Similar Learning
Institutions"" (PDF). Archived from the original(PDF) on 5 March 2016.
Retrieved 1 May 2015.
20. ^ Biazon, Rodolfo G. ""An Act Amending Republic Act Numbered
9163, Otherwise Known as the 'National Service Training Program Act
of 2001', and for Other Purposes"" (PDF). Archived from the
original (PDF) on 13 February 2014. Retrieved 1 May 2015.
21. ^ Aumentado, Erico Aristotle C. ""An Act Reinstating the Mandatory
Reserve Officers' Training Corps (ROTC) for Students in All Public and
Private Universities, Colleges and Similar Learning Institutions"" (PDF).
Archived from the original(PDF) on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 1
May 2015.
22. ^ Gatchalian, Sherwin T. ""An Act to Re-institutionalize the Mandatory
Military and Civic Reserve Officers' Training Corps (ROTC) for
Students in All Colleges, Universities and Technical or Vocational
Schools"" (PDF). Archived from the original(PDF) on 4 March 2016.
Retrieved 1 May 2015.
 23. ^ Pacquiao, Emmanuel D. ""An Act Providing for the Restoration of
Mandatory Military Training for Students in All Colleges and
Universities by Reinstating Sections 38 and 39 of Republic Act No.
7077, Otherwise Known as the 'Citizen Armed Force or Armed Forces
of the Philippines Reservist Act'"" (PDF). Archived from the
original (PDF) on 2 July 2014. Retrieved 1 May 2015.
24. ^ Ridon, Terry L. ""An Act Abolishing the Reserve Officers Training
Corps and Strengthening the Social and Civic Service Components of
the National Service Training Program Through the Establishment of
Additional Social and Civic Service Programs Available to Students by
Amending and Expanding the Scope of Republic Act 9163 or the
National Service Training Program (NSTP) Act of 2001"" (PDF).
Archived from the original (PDF) on 13 February 2014. Retrieved 1
May 2015.
25. ^ Corrales, Nestor (February 7, 2017). "Duterte approves revival of
mandatory ROTC for Grades 11, 12". Philippine Daily Inquirer.
Retrieved February 7, 2017.
26. ^ CNN Philippines Staff (May 20, 2019). "House OKs bill on
mandatory ROTC for senior high students". CNN Philippines.
Retrieved May 21, 2019.
27. ^ The Philippine Star (August 4, 2016). "Duterte admits not finishing
ROTC course". The Philippine Star. Retrieved May 21,2019.
28. ^ Ranada, Pia (July 15, 2017). "Duterte shares the trick that got him
out of ROTC". Rappler. Retrieved May 21, 2019.
29. ^ "Revive ROTC? Netizens remind Duterte: You faked your way
through training". Politico: The bible of Philippine Politics. November
24, 2018. Retrieved May 21, 2019.
30. ^ Malasig, Jeline (November 23, 2018). "Why Duterte's desire to make
ROTC mandatory for 'patriotism' contradicts his actions". Interaksyon.
Retrieved May 21, 2019.

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Military of the Philippines

and Headquarters Service Command (GHQ-HSC)

Group (PSG)

ademy (PMA)

hilippines Command and General Staff College (AFPCGSC)

hilippines Reserve Command (AFPRESCOM)

mand (NOLCOM)

mand (SOLCOM)

- National Capital Region (JTF-NCR)

ENTCOM)
WESCOM)
mmand (EASTMINCOM)

mmand (WESTMINCOM)

ns Command (AFPSOCOM)

erations Center (PKOC)

Defense

of the Army

and

of the Air Force

arine Corps

and (ARESCOM)

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ar

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See also: Reserve Officers' Training Corps • Military Ordinariate of the Philippines
Categories:
 Military education and training in the Philippines
 Reserve Officers' Training Corps (Philippines)
 Military officer training
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