Recently, supporters of the Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC) program have been poking fun at those who are using the slogan “Atin ang West Philippine Sea,” while also opposing the ROTC’s revival. What I find funny (if not disturbing), though, is how some people are led to believe that the West Philippine Sea issue with China can be resolved through armed confrontation, and that asserting our sovereign rights is futile without preparing for war, i.e., having a mandatory military training that teaches students blind obedience and instills in them a culture of violence.

Aloc, D. (2024, July 5). ROTC can't resolve WPS problem. Philippine Daily Inquirer, p. A14.