Mahigpit na tinutulan ng College Editors Guild of the Philippines (CEGP) ang plano ni Senador Ronald “Bato dela Rosa na ibalik ang mandatory ROTC training sa mga kabataan. Sa isang pahayag na may pamagat na- “Tokhang architect Bato to stage systemic massacre anew under Mandatory ROTC – CEGP”, tahasang sinabi ng students’ group na wala silang tiwala sa senador. Wala rin daw sa posisyon si Dela Rosa na magdesisyon para sa mga kabataan.

“The College Editors Guild of the Philippines renews its distrust of Senator Bato Dela Rosa and his push for the Mandatory Reserve Officers’ Training Corps in today’s Senate hearing, February 6. With his bloody track record of enabling the war on drugs and state terrorism, CEGP believes that Dela Rosa is and will never be in a position to decide for the youth and the students–especially since he has blood in his hands,” paliwanag ng CEGP.

Binigyang diin din ni Brell Lacerna, CEGP National Spokesperson, na libu-libong kabataan ang pinatay ng drug war na kanyang pinamunuan noong siya ang PNP Chief. Marami rin daw pang-aabuso sa ROTC program ang hindi pa nareresolba hanggang ngayon.

“Senator Bato has no right to talk about nationalism and discipline when he himself led a drug war that took away the lives and dreams of thousands of youth who wanted to serve the nation–some of them even wanted to become police officers like him at the time. Now he wants to convince us to prepare and send Filipino youth to possible wars instigated by other countries–wars we never wanted. Moreover, if not be made vulnerable in potential wars, their proposal for Mandatory ROTC subjects youth to potential abuse that has never been fully stamped out of the ROTC program or any form of military training. We note that there have been 14 recorded cases of hazing, sexual abuse, physical assault, and murder in the ROTC since 1995—cases which have not resulted in the criminal conviction of perpetrators,” ayon kay Lacerna.

Nangangamaba rin daw ang CEGP na pagmulan ang ROTC program ng mas maraming paglabag sa campus press freedom.

“In commitment to the service and protection of the campus press all over the country, CEGP asserts that Mandatory ROTC will only bait student journalists into a trap of violence, abuse, corruption, and impunity. CEGP as written in their position paper submitted to the Senate remains firm that pushing for MROTC is also pushing for more campus press freedom violations,” anila.

Sa huli, sinabi ng CEGP National Spokesperson na hindi sila nagtitiwala sa mga tinawag nilang “promoters at implementors”. Hindi rin daw dapat ipagkatiwala ang bagong henerasyon ng kabataan sa mga programa at mga taong hindi pa napapanagot sa kanilang mga ginawa.

“As Senator Bato continues to wash the blood off his hands by not admitting any form of accountability and not welcoming the ICC investigation on the drug war, we are less inclined to listen to his proposals for the Filipino youth. The AFP, at the same time, has no ascendancy as well to ensure that youth will not be victimized under ROTC. While the proposed bills lack any mechanism to prevent abuse and extinguish such rotten culture.”

“We do not trust the promoters. We do not trust the implementors. We should not entrust the new generation to programs and agents who have not been accountable for past crimes against Filipino youth. We oppose the revival of Mandatory ROTC for the sake of Filipino families and our children’s future,” ayon sa CEGP National Spokesperson.

Photo: Philippine News Agency at Sen. Ronald dela Rosa Fb