Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, November 6)— The chief of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) vowed the military will remain nonpartisan as the election season kicks off.
“The Armed Forces has always been and will always be nonpartisan when it comes to elections,” AFP Chief of Staff Gen. Jose Faustino, Jr. said in an interview on CNN Philippines’ special presentation “The Generals” which aired on Saturday.
“We also pray for this peaceful and successful elections,” he added. “We can guarantee that the Armed Forces will be nonpartisan when it comes to this election.”
Last month, Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana reminded troops to remain neutral and professional ahead of next year’s polls, stressing that soldiers “are not allowed to campaign for anybody.”
In September, President Rodrigo Duterte also called for a peaceful conduct of the polls, and even warned he may be forced to “use the military” to avoid incidents of violence.
The Commission on Elections (Comelec) earlier said it was closely working with security forces to ensure fair elections. The sentiment was echoed by the military.
“We have always been a professional organization and we abide by that and I suppose in the coming elections, we will again be called together with the Philippine National Police as part of the main organization to be tapped by the Comelec,” Army chief Andres Centino said on the same program.
