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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider Metro Manila devider Students, parents protest hazing incident, demand accountability from PLM

Students, parents protest hazing incident, demand accountability from PLM

Published May 20, 2025 05:10 pm

At A Glance

  • Led by Gabriela Youth - PLM, the victim's parents, and Gabriela Women's Party, the demonstrators criticized what they described as the PLM administration's "alarming inaction" following the alleged abuse of a first-year female cadet during ROTC activities on November 28, 2024.
Courtesy of Mark Balmores/MANILA BULLETIN
Courtesy of Mark Balmores/MANILA BULLETIN

Students, parents, and women’s rights advocates held a protest in front of the Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila (PLM) in Intramuros on Tuesday, May 20, condemning a recent hazing incident involving the university's Reserve Officers' Training Corps (ROTC) unit.

Led by Gabriela Youth - PLM, the victim’s parents, and Gabriela Women’s Party, the demonstrators criticized what they described as the PLM administration’s “alarming inaction” following the alleged abuse of a first-year female cadet during ROTC activities on November 28, 2024.

According to the group, the cadet was subjected to physical and verbal abuse -- including being blindfolded, slapped, and shouted at -- by ROTC officers.

They claim the university’s internal investigation failed to protect the victim or hold those involved accountable.

“This is a systemic issue,” said Fran Reyes, spokesperson for Gabriela Youth, who denounced the culture of violence in military training programs.

Reyes also raised concerns over what the group described as "mandatory ROTC in disguise," citing limited options for students in other National Service Training Program (NSTP) tracks.

The protest comes amid renewed debate over proposals to reinstate Mandatory ROTC nationwide. Gabriela Youth reiterated its opposition, warning that such policies threaten student rights and safety.

The group is calling for full transparency from PLM, justice for the victim, and an end to hazing and coercive ROTC enlistment practices.

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