Acidre defends Nat’l Defense Bill
THE proposed bill increasing the nation’s defense capabilities that requires mandatory military service among Filipinos is not applicable during peacetime.
This was stressed by Tingog party-list Rep. Jude Acidre after Kabataan party-list Rep. Raoul Daniel Manuel criticized House Bill (HB) 11 or the proposed National Defense Act of 2022 on requiring Filipinos to render military service during invasion.
“The National Defense Bill is not a sounding call for Filipinos to arm themselves for war. Nor does it require mandatory military service in normal times. House Bill (HB) 11 requires mandatory military service for all citizens only when the President mobilizes the nation in case of actual invasion or when public safety requires,” Acidre said.
Acidre filed HB 11 along with Speaker Martin G. Romualdez, Tingog party-list Rep. Yedda Marie K. Romualdez, and Ilocos Norte Rep. Ferdinand Alexander “Sandro” Marcos.
Acidre said “any mobilization plan, according to our proposed measure, shall conform to the provisions of the Constitution.
“Military service in war time does not only involve carrying guns and shooting people. There are also priests, doctors, nurses, engineers and other professionals needed for their service in war. Mobilization in defense of country is a must for any nation to survive. Any patriot knows this,” Acidre stressed.
“Defense conditions shall be the bases for the designation of persons and entities to act in behalf of the state. Defense Conditions, hereinafter referred to as DEFCON, are circumstances where the three categories of events — disaster internal disorders, and invasion — acting separately or in concert tend to, or actually threaten, the security of the state,” the bill said.
“Military service shall be mandatory for all citizens of the Philippines, and the methods and procedures for the classification, selection, examination, induction, training, employment, and release of all citizens from their military obligations shall be prescribed by the President of the Philippines,” the bill said.
