MANILA - Senator Robin Padilla believes that having mandatory military training for the youth, under the Reserve Officers' Training Corps (ROTC) program, can also hone their other skills. 

In an interview on Teleradyo Serbisyo on Saturday morning, Padilla said those who undergo mandatory ROTC may also go through training adept to their skills, such as that in technology, citing that other countries do these for trainees with disabilities. 

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"Di porke’t sinabi kasi may nakita tayo ibang bansa sa kanila mandatory military service kahit may kapansanan nakakapagserbisyo di kailangan gumapang o hawak ng baril ang kagalingan ng kabataan pwede maximize at bigyan, o mag training magaling sa computer, ang daming paraan. 'Di sinabing ROTC e puro sa pagiging mandirigma lang. Ide-develop natin ang ating mga kabataan," Padilla said.

(In other countries, those who have disabilities can still undergo military service. They don't necessarily have to crawl or hold guns. They can also go through techology training, there are many ways. When you talk about ROTC, it's not just about gearing up for war, we can also develop the youth.) 

The ROTC was made optional in 2002 following the controversial death of University of Santo Tomas student Mark Welson Chua, who was allegedly killed by fellow cadet officers for exposing corruption in the program.

The corruption was made public through school publication "The Varsitarian." The clamor against mandatory ROTC pushed authorities to make it optional under the National Service Training Program. 

Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri earlier listed the measure to return mandatory ROTC as a priority bill. 

For Padilla, the current armed forces enforces better "discipline" and professionalism which he believes can stop the malpractices ROTC had in the past. 

"Very professional ang ating AFP. Napakalayo. Ako nabibihag sa PA, nakita ko paano sila nagsasagawa ng kanilang mga CMO. Sa totoo lang ilang beses ako gumagawa ng talumpati sinasabi ko sana dumating ang panahon ba magkaroon ng parehong discipline ang pulitiko ng sa militar," Padilla said. 

(Our armed forces is very professional. It's different. I'm drawn to PA, I see how they are able to create their CMO. I've even left speeches in the past where I express my hope that politicians will have the discipline of military people.)