Youth groups held a “Day of Action” on November 4 to protest anew against the Marcos regime’s proposal to enforce mandatory Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC). Protests were held before the Senate in Pasay City, along Taft Avenue, Morayta, España, and Sta. Mesa in Manila, and in Quezon City.

The action was organized by youth groups and the No To Mandatory ROTC Network to coincide with the Senate session opening set to deliberate on the proposed bill. In September, Ferdinand Marcos Jr. declared Senate Bill No. 2034, which seeks to make ROTC mandatory, a “priority bill.”

The youth groups called on the Senate not to pass the bill and to scrap it altogether. Instead of allocating funds for mandatory ROTC, they pushed the government to increase funding for public education in the country.

The No To Mandatory ROTC Network also launched a petition against the bill, outlining five reasons why they oppose the program. According to the network, 1) mandatory ROTC is only an added financial burden, 2) it promotes a culture of violence, 3) it will militarize campuses, 4) it will be used to prepare for war, and 5) it strips [the youth] of the right to choose instead of serving the community and civilian sector.

Students from Ateneo de Manila University, De La Salle University, University of Sto. Tomas, Far Eastern University, Pamantasan ng Lunsod ng Maynila, Technological University of the Philippines, Polytechnic University of the Philippines, and other private and public universities joined the protests.