By Liza Soriano
Senator Francis Tolentino said that the country needs to implement quality Reserve Officers’ Training Corp (ROTC) taking a cue from the raging Israel-Hamas war but he made it a point that it’s about patriotism and not war pandering.
Tolentino said that in the most recent hostilities in Gaza, Israel mobilized their 300,000 ROTC reservists in the war against Hamas.
“Siguro, mas ano, mas naha-highlight ‘yung need for a quality ROTC program. Kasi kung makikita mo ‘yung sa Israel 300,000 ‘yung minobilize na ROTC reservists nila,” the senator said.
However, the lawmaker emphasized that he is not war pandering, rather it is to prepare the youth for them to imbibe a deeper meaning of patriotism.
“It’s not about war. It’s about patriotism,” Tolentino said.
Following the simultaneous strikes by Hamas on October 7 that resulted in more than 1,000 fatalities, the Israeli military had claimed it called up to 300,000 reservists.
The Senate’s measure mandating the Reserve Officers’ Training Corps for students in technical-vocational and higher education institutions is currently up for discussion in the full Senate.
(ai/mnm)
ILOILO City – Romeo Constancio of University of Negros Occidental-Recoletos outraced Peter Molina of West Visayas State University(WVSU) in the crucial stretch to rule the men’s 100-m dash in 11.5 seconds and became the most bemedalled athlete with three golds at the end of the athletics competition in the 2023 ROTC Games Visayas Leg on Wednesday at the Iloilo Sports Complex here.
Constancio, a 20-year-old Air Force ROTC cadet from Pulupandan, Negros Occidental later joined with teammates David Paul Balagat, John Lloyd Moreno and Christian Sericon in topping the PAF’s men’s 4×400-meter relay.
The deadly quartet of the UNO-R likewise dominated the men’s 4×100-m relay in 49.6 seconds on Tuesday.
“I am very thankful to our Creator for this wonderful gift. I never expected this.This is my first time to participate in a multi-event meet,” said Constancio, a second year BS Criminology student.
He said they will continue with their preparation for the national Finals in Metro Manila tentatively set in October.
“I knew Molina, who won yesterday’s 200-m run, is fast but I told myself, this is my time also to test my capability. Parang tiwala lang sa sarili,” added Constancio.
Jerson Gison of West Visayas State University likewise won the Philippine Army’s competition of the men’s 100-m dash in 11.7 seconds.
The three branches of the Armed Forces of the Philippines including the Philippine Navy will have their own respective competition and separate winners.
As expected, Piepet Prebillo of Filamera Christian School of Capiz secured her second gold by winning the gold in the Philippine Army’s women’s 100-m dash.
The 20-year-old Army cadet Prebillo also won the PA’s 200-m run on Tuesday in 27.91 seconds. “I’m very happy to win both the 100-m dash and 200-m run and become the fastest woman in this competition,” said the second year BS Criminology student Prebillo. (ai/mnm)