Retired Col Querubin pushes for mandatory ROTC revival

Retired Marine Colonel Ariel Querubin, a Medal of Valor awardee, is advocating for the reinstatement of the mandatory Reserve Officers' Training Corps (ROTC) program if elected as senator in the 2025 May elections.

Querubin cited China's aggressions in the West Philippine Sea and the need for disaster response capabilities as reasons for strengthening military preparedness through a robust reserve force.

He acknowledged that the current National Service Training Program, which replaced mandatory ROTC in 2002 following student deaths linked to the program, could be modified rather than scrapped entirely.

Querubin emphasized the importance of leadership and discipline training provided by the ROTC and suggested integrating disaster response into its curriculum.

His legislative agenda includes a scholarship program for the eldest child in every family and aims to balance the needs of employees and employers regarding wages.