No connect between ROTC, DepEd posting
DepEd is all about basic education plus the Alternative Learning System, so it has nothing to do with ROTC
Incoming Vice President Sara Duterte-Carpio clarified Tuesday that her push for students to undergo military training has nothing to do with her appointment as Education Secretary by presumptive President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.
“I would just like to remind the smarty-pants, that the Department of Education (DepEd) is all about basic education plus the Alternative Learning System (ALS),” Duterte-Carpio said.
“So, it has nothing to do with ROTC (Reserve Officers’ Training Corps). There is no connection between the two,” she added in an interview on Davao City Disaster Radio.
She vowed to introduce reforms at DepEd to make Filipino learners more competitive globally, adding she’s in favor of face-to-face graduation ceremonies even amid the Covid-19 pandemic.
Also on Tuesday, Duterte-Carpio released a statement to the media that she has decided to set her inauguration date on 19 June, so she can witness the inauguration of her running mate, Marcos Jr.
“It will be conducted earlier than the traditional 30 June event because I also want to attend the oathtaking of President Marcos,” Duterte-Carpio said, adding she’ll take her oath of office in Davao City.
“While waiting for the proclamation, I already penciled19 June as the inauguration date in Davao City. The Dabawenyos’ patience made me the public servant that I am today; it is only fitting to honor them [with] the opportunity to witness the oathtaking,” she said.
The Commission on Elections (Comelec) said it would not be a violation of the 1987 Philippine Constitution if Duterte-Carpio conducts her inauguration ceremony earlier than 30 June.
For Comelec Commissioner George Garcia, the law does not explicitly state that inauguration for newly elected officials must be done on the said date.
He was referring to Article VII, Section 4 of the Constitution, which states that the new president and the vice president “shall be elected by direct vote of the people for a term of six years which shall begin at noon on the thirtieth day of June next following the day of the election and shall end at noon of the same date six years thereafter.”
“Two former presidents took their oaths at 11:45 a.m., not exactly at 12:00 so meaning to say, oaths can be taken earlier than that. What is stated is that number one, you can only assume office at exactly 12:00 on 30 June, and number two, you will recite your oath based on what is stated in the Constitution,” Garcia explained.