MANILA (Mindanao Examiner / Feb. 19, 2014) – Students of Polytechnic University of the Philippines and youth group Anakbayan have called for the complete abolition of the Reserve Officers’ Training Corps after students complained of hazing committed by senior officers of the campus military training program.
Two female cadets of the PUP-ROTC program were reportedly hit by their officials – who are also students – with wooden rifles, causing severe bruises in the back of their thighs. A complaint has been lodged against the two ROTC officials – also PUP students – in the PUP Student Disciplinary Board.
In her affidavit-complaint, the 18-year student said that she and two others were made to squat, their palms were hit by wooden sticks. Their thighs were also hit several times with wooden rifles inside the ROTC office after failing to attend a briefing.
“Hinarangan nila ang pinto ng upuan, at nag spelling si Sir ng briefing night… May labingtatlo ang letra kaya labingtatlo ang palo. Una, pinalo ako… ng 6 beses sa palad gamit ang kahoy na 1/2 inch ang kapal more or less… Nagsimula ako mapaluha sa sakit. Si Kate naman
pinalo ng 7 beses gamit ng wooden rifle sa binti. Nagpalit kami ng pwesto at dun na ko humahulgol,” she said in her affidavit, adding she and her companions were repeatedly hit by a wooden rifle despite their pleases.
“Ang sinabi ko lang, Sir no sir, ma’am no ma’am, sir none sir… Pinaattention ako, pinaharap sa likod. Wala ibang sinusunod kundi sinasabi nila, sa sobrang takot. Pinagpapalo ako ni ma’am sa may hita ng pitong beses gamit ang wooden rifle. Ang panlimang palo ay tumalsik ako,” she said.
She also said she was thinking about running away and escaping but she was scared they would hit her in the head. She said her officers told her they did that to her “para matauhan at maging responsable.”
When she got home, she saw that her thighs and hands were swollen and discolored because of the beating.
Anakbayan chairperson Vencer Crisostomo has condemned the incident and called for the “immediate and complete abolition of the ROTC program.”
“This incident clearly illustrates the violent, fascist tradition that the ROTC brings to campuses. PUP and all schools should immediately suspend the implementation of ROTC towards its total abolition,” he said in a statement sent to the Mindanao Examiner regional newspaper.
He said in 2001, the brutal murder of University of Santo Tomas student Mark Welson Chua became a catalyst for a broad movement to abolish the ROTC program in schools.
Chua’s death was linked to his exposition of the corruption in the UST Corps. The clamor to remove the ROTC program in tertiary schools resulted in the creation of the National Service Training Program by virtue of Republic Act 9163 promulgated on January 23, 2002.
The NSTP law was passed declaring ROTC optional, and in its place, a Civic Welfare Training Service. The ROTC service remains an option in campuses, under the supervision of the Armed Forces of the Philippines.
Students say despite the law, ROTC is still mandatory and required in campuses.
“There is a quota required or a minimum number of slots that should be filled in most campuses. This is contrary to its being optional and voluntary. Also, the ROTC is being used as a tool to harass progressive student leaders and recruit ‘student intelligence’ volunteers to spy on fellow students. They still have offices in campuses where they conduct their fascistic, violent, corrupt and abusive activities,” Crisostomo said.
He encouraged other victims of ROTC abuse to come out and complain. Those with complaints can go to www.anakbayan.org to submit complaints.
He said protests are being planned to call for the complete abolition of ROTC and their eviction from campuses. “It is high time that we excise this vestige of a bygone militaristic era from our schools with finality. In the coming days, we vow to intensify the call for ROTC abolition,” Crisostomo said.
20
