Gabriela Youth and Anakbayan at Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila (PLM) condemned the exposed case of hazing in the Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC) at the university as early as November 2024. This followed the victim’s father’s revelation on May 8 regarding PLM’s continued inaction and denial of justice for his daughter.

The violent hazing reportedly happened to a female cadet on November 28, 2024, at the ROTC office’s so-called “Armory” inside the university. PLM ROTC cadets and officers were involved in the hazing. Under the order of a certain officer, the victim was reportedly blindfolded, repeatedly slapped, forced into a bridge pose while repeatedly being cursed at, and her fingers were squeezed.

The incident forced the victim to leave PLM during her first semester and transferred to another school. This also caused her severe trauma requiring her to undergo treatment for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).

“I am a father calling for justice for my daughter,” the victim’s father said. He shared that the internal investigation conducted at PLM ROTC proved that university students were involved in the incident. “However, it seems that PLM took no concrete steps to address this issue and give justice to my daughter,” he said.

The father emphasized that PLM administration’s silence on this case is a form of toleration of abuse. “Every student has the right to study in a safe and just environment, and this should not be disregarded,” he said. He added that this is not just the fight of a father but of all parents and students who desire safety inside their school.

In response, Gabriela Youth PLM challenged the administration and PLM ROTC to do the right thing and hold those responsible accountable. “Stop covering up the violence happening inside the university. The administration simply ignores cases that occur yearly,” the group said.

They also condemned PLM for its National Service Training Program which is implemented as the quasi-mandatory ROTC. According to the group, insufficient slots in the Civic Welfare Training Service that supposedly serve as alternative to ROTC force a large number of first-year students to enter ROTC. This is also reportedly due to PLM’s attempt to reach the quota for the ROTC program.

“Adding to the cases inside PLM ROTC this year is the continued humiliation and discrimination of LGBTQ+ cadets, particularly trans students. These incidents, including the hazing that occurred, clearly show that ROTC enforces macho-feudal or patriarchal ideas and practices,” according to Gabriela Youth PLM.

Gabriela Youth and Anakbayan explained that these reasons for violence are also why they oppose the Marcos regime’s push to enact Mandatory ROTC in the country. “Instead of allocating funds and attention to Mandatory ROTC, more funds would have been better allocated to the education sector, which is facing a severe crisis of teacher shortages, lack of facilities, and the continued shrinking of the budget,” according to the statement of Anakbayan PLM.