AFP constrained against allowing ROTC cadets to serve in May elections

By Ronron
February 8, 2007

The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) is constrained against allowing the cadets of the Reserve Officers Training Corps (ROTC) from all colleges and universities in the country to serve in the upcoming May elections because of the existing Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) between the Defense department and the Commission on Elections (Comelec).

Defense Secretary Hermogenes Ebdane, Jr. and AFP Deputy Chief of Staff for Retirees and Reservist Affairs Maj. Gen. Jose Angel Honrado said in separate interviews Thursday that deployment of ROTC cadets to do election duties would require military supervisors.

The October 12, 2006 MOA of the DND and the Comelec, however, prohibits AFP personnel from taking active role in the elections to avoid being accused of engaging in partisan politics. The agreement was an off-shoot of the fraud-tainted May 2004 national polls where the military was accused of helping ensure the victory of then Presidential candidate Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.

“That (military’s active role in the conduct of elections) is prohibited… In so far as we are concerned, since it is part of the MOA, I say, we cannot allow that (deployment of ROTC cadets),” Ebdane said.

He said that even if the ROTC cadets are tapped as volunteers, “they cannot be deployed without supervisor.”

Honrado disclosed that there are about 150,000 ROTC cadets all over the country this year. The ROTC is a two-year military training course that college students are required to take alternate to the two-year National Service Training Program (NSTP), which is socio-civic in nature.

Honrado said that in past elections, the Comelec always requests the AFP for the use of ROTC cadets to assist in the holding of the elections. And it is always granted because nothing prohibits AFP personnel from doing such.

“They serve as deputized poll watchers and as peace officers,” he said when asked about the specific roles of ROTC cadets.

Ebdane and Honrado said the final decision on the utilization of ROTC cadets for the May 14, 2007 elections still lies with the Comelec.

“Perhaps there is a need to discuss this at the Comelec level and define. But as of now, we have to stick with the memo of understanding,” Ebdane said./DMS