The PUP community, led by the Rise for Education—PUP and the PUP Sentral na Konseho ng Mag-aarál (PUP SKM), conducted a press conference entitled We Need Funds for Safe, Inclusive, and Quality Education in PUP! Not Mandatory ROTC! held in person at the Charlie del Rosario building and virtually via Zoom on Thursday, 9 February 2023.
Heads from various student councils and organizations across the university reiterated their opposition to the MROTC at the press conference. NUSP Spokesman Joshua Alquiler emphasized the need to focus on better priorities, stating that military preparation through MROTC is unnecessary.
“On MROTC, we don’t need to prepare for anyone. Behind MROTC is state terror and fascism. Kung ang NCSTP Bill ay nagbabalat-kayong mandatory ROTC, sa senado naman ay lantarang mandatory ROTC ang binubuo,” he said.
CAL SC President Dana Úrsula raised her concern on the pending bill in Congress, adding that more pressing issues must instead be prioritized.
“Adding MROTC will make the matters worse. Ang kailangan ng Filipino [ay] ang karampatang pondo sa sektor ng kalasugan, edukasyon—walang lugar ang pasista sa loob ng paaralan,” remarked CAL–SC President Úrsula.
On the other hand, PUP–SKM Vice President and Defend PUP Convenor Benhur Queqquegan gave the opening speech for the event, clamoring for students to work together against campus militarization.
“Ilahad natin kung bakit tutol tayo sa MROTC. Pinagpupugayan ang mga isko ng bayan sa paglaban sa MROTC,” he said.
Similarly, COC-SC President Kim Torralba called on the youth to amplify their voices in representing the public against supposed “state terror and fascism” in the form of the MROTC.
“Gamitin nating kabataan ang ating mga plataporma dahil tayo ang boses ng minoriya/masa. I-empower, mulatin natin ang masa dahil kapangyarihan ang ating boses. Ang panawagan natin ay panawagan ng masa,” COC–SC President Torralba said.
The press conference adjourned with the closing remarks by SKM President Kirchhoff Thomas Angala, inviting the audience to attend the upcoming Arts Month on Friday to participate in opposition to MROTC.
Article by: Zion Faithmore del Rosario
Graphics by: Jillbert James Tubilid
The Vanguard 