AFP reminds troops: Do not engage in partisan politics

Camp Aguinaldo, General Headquarters of the Armed Forces of the Philippines. (Photo from Radyo Inquirer)

MANILA, Philippines — The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) on Friday reminded its personnel not to engage in partisan politics amid reports of confrontations between military personnel and supporters of Vice President Leni Robredo.

“The AFP leadership is firm in reminding its members to not engage in any partisan political activities prior, during, and after the election period,” the AFP said in a statement on Friday.

It added that the AFP “remains a non-partisan organization that heeds only its mandate to protect the people and the state.”

The AFP did not delve into specifics but a number of incidents involving military personnel have recently emerged.

A Facebook user has complained in February that a military personnel flagged him upon entry to Basilio Fernando Air Base at Lipa, Batangas on Thursday because of his pink car bearing the stickers in support of the tandem of Robredo. He was also told that he would be banned from the premises because of the incident.

The said military personnel has since apologized to the Robredo supporter.

INQUIRER.net sought the reaction of Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana about the incident but he has yet to respond as of posting.

Lorenzana, however, previously said that the military has “no business whatsoever what people put in their cars or what to wear for as long as they do not violate regulations” in reaction to a similar incident when a military personnel apprehended a man whose car had a pink ribbon tied to his side mirror.

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JPV