SSG Meeting #06-04 Tackles the NSTP Law; Military-Political Instability
POSTED BY: Benny Valin
DATE POSTED: 2006-03-20
The Strategic Studies Group held its 4th meeting on 21 March 2006 at the NDCP Honor Hall. SSG Fellows Col. Virgilio Aganon PA (Res) MNSA and Commo Plaridel Garcia AFP (Ret) presented their papers entitled “The NSTP-ROTC Revisited: Its implication to National Security” and “Military-Political Instability: The Constitutional Anomaly” respectively.
Col Aganon discussed the impact of the passage of the National Service Training Program (NSTP) in 2002 on the recruitment process of future reservists from the ROTC in the Armed Forces of the Philippines, particularly the Philippine Army.
His study argues that the opportunity to mold the values of the Filipino youth along the lines of voluntarism, discipline, dedication and service to the nation lies at the heart of the ROTC. Col Aganon proposed a number of reforms in the ROTC system which would encourage the youth to contribute to reservist build-up.
Commo Garcia’s paper analyzes the role of the armed forces in the current political problems afflicting the country. The military has not been able to insulate itself from politics due to the politician’s constant intervention, Commo Garcia argued. He believes that modernizing and reorganizing the armed forces and amending the Philippine Constitution would insulate the military from partisan politics.
Guests from the following offices arrived for the said meeting: Office of the Undersecretary for Philippine Defense Reform-DND, Office of the Secretary for Administration- DND, Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff for Intelligence OJ2, Intelligence Service of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (ISAFP), the AFP Reserve Command (AFPRESCOM), Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff for Retirees and Reservists OJ7, House of Representatives, the NDCP Alumni Association, Association for General Flag Officers (AGFO), PMA Alumni Association (PMAAA) and the National Security Council.
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