Cadets from the Reserved Officers Training Corps (ROTC) blocked Bicol University graduating students from expressing their sentiments through a lightning rally during their graduation rites on July 13. The activity was disrupted by the aggressive actions of the ROTC personnel.

“Lightning rallies… have been launched during ceremonies as a way to amplify calls for advocacy and to call graduates to serve the people,” Rise for Education (R4E)-Bicol University said that day.

It said that despite the blessing of the Office of Student Affairs and Services’ (OSAS) and the university’s Legal Office, ROTC cadets still disrupted the activity because the students called for “No to Mandatory ROTC.” R4E and other student groups have long called for the scrapping of mandatory military training proposals that these are costly, oppressive and only serve the fascist military establishment.

“This is a violation of the students’ right to free assembly and expression,” according to R4E. “(Our commitment is) not blind obedience but welfare-oriented service to the people.”

They urged their fellow students or Bueños to stand up for the right to express and not be oppressed inside and outside the university.