SENATOR Robinhood Padilla is hopeful the Senate will tackle the Mandatory Reserved Officers Training Corps bill upon the resumption of Congress session on July 24.

The senator admitted being frustrated as the Senate Sub-Committee on Higher Education has not yet endorsed plenary deliberations on the bill requiring mandatory military training for college students.

“Malungkot na malungkot po ako diyan. Nung nagpapapirma si Senator Ronald dela Rosa ng committee report ay may mga kontra. Nalulungkot ako sa sitwasyon sa bansa natin. Kailangan ang military service, mandatory ‘yan,” said Padilla in an interview with DWIZ.

The senator, meanwhile, said if the Senate will not act on the bill, he will push for the implementation of the provisions in the Constitution.

“Kapag hindi nagkatuluyan diyan, isusulong natin sa Constitution. Hindi ko nga alam bakit kailangan pa batas pero sa Constitution, obligado tayong proteksiyunan at dipensahan ang bansa,” he explained.

“Opo sa totoo lang dito lang sa ating bansa may ka-adikan tayo sa paggawa ng batas. Saligang Batas po ang pinakamataas na saligang batas,” the senator added.