ROBINHOOD Padilla on Sunday reiterated his full support for Sen. Francis Tolentino and for the passage into law of a measure for mandatory Reserve Officers Training Corps or ROTC.

In his speech at the opening of the Luzon Qualifying Leg of the ROTC Games 2024 in Cavite, Padilla also stressed that everything is good between him and Tolentino in the political scene.

“Hangga’t bingi ang Kongreso sa itinutulak ni Sen. Tolentino na mandatory ROTC training, laging malulungkot ang ating bansa sapagkat alam n’yo ang ating kabataan sa Konstitusyon ‘yan, malinaw, na dapat ang mga Pilipino handa sa anuman lalo sa pag-ibig ‘di puro giyera,” he said.

Padilla, a reserve Lt. Col. in the Philippine Army, is a passionate supporter of mandatory ROTC.

He said mandatory ROTC is needed to prepare the youth not only for war but also to help in times of calamity.

Also, Padilla insisted there is no bad blood between him and Tolentino, who he had advised to resign from the Partido Demokratiko Pilipino where he is president, so he can focus on his role as Senate majority leader.

“Alam n’yo, magkaibigan kaming totoo. Pagka nagbasa kayo ng dyaryo, manood ng social media, pinag-aaway kaming dalawa. Huwag kayong maniwala doon. Dahil ako sasabihin ko sa inyo, kung may isang tunay na senador sa Senado ‘yan ho ay si Sen. Tol Tolentino,” he said.

“Hindi ako nangangampanya. Sinisigurado ko sa inyo magiging maganda ang kinabukasan ng Pilipinas kay Francis Tol Tolentino,” he added.

Meanwhile, Padilla told the youth taking part in the ROTC Games to always remember that Filipinos are not beholden to anyone because the Philippines is a free country.

He reiterated ROTC, and not being keyboard warriors, is needed to prepare youth to defend our freedom.

“Kilala tayo na mapagmahal, kilala tayong matapang. Wala na tayong papatunayan… Isa lang ang problema. Hindi tayo united. Yan ang problema. At yan matututunan natin sa ROTC (na) lahat tayo nasa isang bandila,” he further said.

Padilla likewise advised the youth undergoing ROTC to become ambassadors to other members of Congress, so mandatory ROTC will become a law.