MANILA, Philippines?Two lawmakers on Monday expressed alarm over plans to give the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) expanded role in the May 2010 election, saying the military could be used anew in ?cheating operations.?

Calling the proposal of Acting Defense Secretary Norberto Gonzales ?dangerous,? Bayan Muna party-list Representative Teodoro Casino said it should not be heeded.

?In the 2004 and 2007 elections, the AFP was instrumental in the administration?s cheating operations for GMA (President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo) and her allies,? Casino said in a text message.

He claimed the military also campaigned against progressive party-list groups.

Casino said that Gonzales?s proposal would only further politicize the military and give it greater control over the political system at a time when its role should be lessened.

On Sunday, Gonzales said the new agreement would redefine the role of the AFP during elections, placing it at the ?full disposal? of the Commission on Elections to curb private armies and prevent a repeat of the November 23 massacre that killed 57 people in Maguindanao.

In a separate statement, Muntinlupa Representative Rufino Biazon was also wary about Gonzales?s proposal, saying ?such a move will only open grey areas which may eventually lead to the military being used for political interest.?

?I would strongly advise against the proposal of Secretary Gonzales to give the military additional roles during elections,? he said.

Malacanang said it will await the final proposal for discussions in the Cabinet.

?I imagine at some point it will have to go through Cabinet discussions as well as presidential review,? said deputy presidential spokesperson Gary Olivar.

Gonzales earlier broached the idea of reviewing the existing memorandum of agreement between the AFP and the Comelec that he said would allow the military to meet the challenge ?head-on? instead of ?shying away? from its responsibility during elections.

The acting defense chief said a technical working group was studying and working on the details of a new agreement that would replace the 2006 deal.

The old memorandum of agreement limited the involvement of the military in the country?s electoral processes to merely providing security to an area, operating checkpoints, and enforcing the gun ban during the election season.

It banned the AFP from acting as security escorts of a candidate, participating in the canvassing of votes, and transporting ballot boxes, among other things.