OUTGOING Davao City Mayor and incoming Vice President Sara Duterte is hoping that the revival of the mandatory Reserve Officers' Training Corps (ROTC) will be part of the priority legislation of the administration of President-elect Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr.
Duterte said in a press conference on Monday morning, June 20, that the matter is to be decided between Marcos and the incoming Senate and House of Representatives.
But she is hoping that this will push through.
"I hope that it will be included since marami namang (there are) pending bills dyan sa Congress, with regard to that, iba-iba ang pangalan (with different names), and titles. Sana masali siya (I hope it would be included)," Duterte said.
Duterte, who was promoted to 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.
During a virtual political event, she said training for individuals enrolling in compulsory military service would not last for just one weekend or a month.
"Gagamitin ko ang aking opisina (I will use my office) — Office of the Vice President — para kausapin ang ating (to talk to our) Congress and the Senate of the Philippines to make military service for all 18 years old, male and female, mandatory in our country," Duterte said during the UniTeam Alliance's virtual caravan on January 20.
The outgoing mayor said countries like South Korea and Israel have been requiring their citizens to perform military service.
This had led to speculation that the mayor, who earlier eyed the post of the Department of National Defense, will be reviving the ROTC, which used to be 12 units in college.
Duterte, also the incoming Education secretary, however, clarified in a previous interview that the ROTC is something not under her office.
"With regard[s] to ROTC and the Department of Education, remind lang ko sa tanang mga bright (I would like to remind those smart people) that the Department of Education is all about basic education and ALS [Alternative Learning System]. So it has nothing to do with ROTC," Duterte-Carpio said in an interview on 87.5 FM Davao City Disaster Radio on May 16.
Duterte also emphasized that the ROTC is a tertiary subject, which is under the jurisdiction of the Commission on Higher Educations (Ched).
Meanwhile, she said she is set to have a face-to-face meeting with outgoing Education Secretary Leonor Briones for the finalization of the transition phase.