Steps back
Restoration of the death penalty and of the ROTC (Reserve Officers Training Corps) takes us two steps back from becoming a more civilized nation. The death penalty directly and the ROTC remotely contribute to the very anti-theses of the goals and means of civilized society which are peaceful cooperation in the pursuit of a secure and progressive life for all its members.
Until our justice system is cleansed of corruption, only the poor will be meted the death penalty as the wealthy pay their way out of it. That is why, although I am against it for essentially moral reasons, I could live with it for two heinous crimes that currently are preventing our courts from meting justice fairly and equally to all.
One is the crime of judges, lawyers, the police, the National Bureau of Investigation, etc., planting evidence, killing witnesses and framing up the ignorant and innocent poor for the money of rich criminals trying to escape conviction and punishment.
The other is plunder. It is heinous because it steals from the people and kills the poor by depriving them of essential government services. Plunder also provides corrupt officials with money to match the greed of corrupt judges, prosecutors, police, etc.
I doubt the motivation behind the delisting of plunder from the category of heinous crimes, more so now that an elected congressman has publicly aired his ignorance (more like stupidity to me) of the difference between a thief who steals from a fellow citizen and a plunderer who steals from the people.
About the ROTC… its phase-out years back together with the removal of the mandatory conscription was part of our demilitarization process. These were excellent moves for a small and poor country like us. Even if we became rich and could afford a well-trained and a well-equipped army we would never win a war against any external aggressor who for sure would invade us only if they are assured of victory.
Or nobody might even invade us at all. This is the more likely scenario under current conditions in the global village. In either case the ROTC is a pretty useless exercise. Our military could instead focus on internal threats to security and peace. The cost-savings could then be put to better use in education, poverty alleviation, etc. That is if these are not plundered away first by corrupt officials.
If instilling discipline is the good we aim to get from the ROTC, I think community service will serve the purpose just as well. We already have free military training in the Philippine Military Academy for those inclined towards a military career. Why force the uninterested to pay tuition for ROTC?
One step back and two forward is the smart way to go, not two steps back with no guarantee of even a step forward.