THE camp of outgoing Davao City Mayor and presumptive vice presidential candidate Sara Duterte-Carpio belied the claims of her close supporter who said her priority, once she becomes Education secretary, will be making the Reserve Officers' Training Corps (ROTC) mandatory.
In a statement forwarded to the media, Liloan, Cebu Mayor and Duterte Carpio's spokesperson Christina Frasco clarified that despite the recent statements of lawyer Bruce Rivera in an interview, the mayor has not said issued statements about making ROTC mandatory.
"There has been no discussion on this matter either with Atty. Rivera or with the DepEd pending the official proclamation of the VP-elect," Frasco said.
"While VP-elect Sara looks forward to fulfilling her role as DepEd Secretary, she is respectful of the transition process and therefore all policy discussions will be had post-proclamation," Frasco added.
Rivera said in an interview on Wag Po! on One PH on Thursday, May 12, that the mayor wants to return the mandatory ROTC among youth.
"Inday [Sara] really wants to return the mandatory ROTC," he said.
Duterte-Carpio, on the same day, said that she accepted the position of being DepEd secretary offered to her by her runningmate, presumptive president Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. as she vows to produce "skilled learners" in the country.
Duterte-Carpio, who was promoted as colonel in the Reserve Force of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) in 2018, earlier proposed a mandatory rendering of military service for all Filipinos 18 years old and above when she gets elected as vice president.
Education Secretary Leonor Briones, in a statement on Wednesday evening, May 11, said she is ready to work for the orderly transition of the DepEd leadership.