Filipino Government Denies Rumors of Mandatory Military Training for Men

Filipino men are not required to undergo mandatory military training, the Department of National Defense has confirmed, despite viral social media claims that have reached tens of thousands of Filipinos online.

A Facebook post by the page “Ph News update,” which garnered over 5,200 reactions and 30,000 shares, falsely claimed that all Filipino males aged 18 to 65 are now required to undergo a two-month army training program, regardless of sexual identity or educational attainment. The post further claimed participants would receive a P30,000 training allowance.

The viral post included a supposed registration link for the alleged mandatory training program. However, investigations reveal this link redirects users not to an official government portal but to a suspicious form embedded on a blog site masquerading as a government recruitment platform.

Security experts warn that such deceptive tactics are typical of phishing operations designed to harvest personal information from unsuspecting citizens. Numerous users commented on the original post reporting they were unable to submit documents through the site, indicating the fraudulent nature of the operation.

“This is a clear attempt to exploit public interest in government programs to collect sensitive personal data,” said a cybersecurity specialist who requested anonymity. “The public should always verify government announcements through official channels.”

While Article II, Section 4 of the 1987 Philippine Constitution does grant the government authority to require citizens to render personal military or civil service under specific conditions, no recent legislation or executive order has reinstated mandatory military service for Filipino citizens.

The viral claim emerges against the backdrop of ongoing debates about military training in the Philippines. Military training was once mandatory for college students under Republic Act No. 7077, which established the framework for the Citizen Armed Forces. However, in 2001, Republic Act No. 9163 made the Reserve Officers Training Corps (ROTC) optional, allowing college students to choose between military training and alternative service programs like Civic Welfare Training Service or Literacy Training Service.

The shift away from mandatory ROTC was largely prompted by the murder of Mark Welson Chua, a University of Santo Tomas student who had exposed corruption within his university’s ROTC program. His death catalyzed public outcry that ultimately led to the program becoming optional.

In recent years, several legislative proposals have aimed to reinstate mandatory military training for certain segments of the population. Proponents argue such training instills discipline, patriotism, and emergency preparedness. However, these initiatives have faced significant resistance from civil society organizations and student groups.

Critics of mandatory military training cite documented cases of physical abuse, hazing incidents, and corruption within past programs. Many advocacy groups have also expressed concerns that such training can foster environments where sexism, homophobia, and violence are normalized.

The Department of Education and the Commission on Higher Education have previously stated that any changes to military training requirements would be announced through official channels and implemented with appropriate transition periods – not through sudden social media announcements.

Citizens are advised to verify government announcements through official websites ending with “.gov.ph” domains or through verified social media accounts of government agencies. The spread of misinformation regarding government programs not only creates public confusion but potentially exposes vulnerable individuals to identity theft and fraud.