Defense, AFP chiefs remind soldiers: Stay impartial in polls
MANILA, Philippines — A month before the official start of campaigning for the 2016 elections, Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin reminded soldiers of their duty to remain apolitical amidst the election fever.
During the New Year’s call of military officials at Camp Aguinaldo on Thursday, the defense secretary stressed the importance of soldiers not leaning towards any political party or personality.
“2016 will bring forth new challenges, and we will continue to meet these challenges. As guardians of democracy, we must remain apolitical and dedicated to our mandate, as it is the price we pay for our sworn duty,” Gazmin said in his speech, referring to the May elections.
“We are reminding them of their responsibility to be apolitical,” he said.
Although the election period officially begins on Jan. 10, the campaign period for candidates for president, vice president, senator and party-list representatives will commence on Feb. 9.
Those running for local office and district representatives cannot start campaigning until March 26.
A campaign ban will be enforced on March 24 and 25 in observance of the Holy Week.
To ensure that soldiers would remain apolitical, the Armed Forces will be recalling the troops assigned as security detail to those officials or other personalities who are running for office, in accordance with Commission on Elections regulations.
The Philippine National Police will also recall policemen assigned to guard various officials and personalities.
AFP Chief of Staff Hernando Iriberri said he issued the instructions last month when he made the rounds of military camps before the year ended.
“Those who will be involved in partisan politics will have to face the consequences of their actions. We are serious about that. We don’t want any soldier, airman, sailor or Marine to be involved in any partisan politics,” Iriberri said.
The AFP chief vowed to punish those engaged in partisan politics.
During the election period, only the Comelec has the authority to assign security personnel to guard candidates.
The exemptions are the President and the Vice President, who have their own security components.
The military has also begun running after private armed groups, specifically in the Zamboanga peninsula.
“Once the election period starts, we shall ensure that no threat groups will undermine or threaten the conduct of the elections,” Iriberri said.
He said the military leadership would apply the same security arrangements used in 2013 for Abra, which conducted its most peaceful elections that year after years of elections marred by violence and deaths.
“My marching orders are, there is already a template on how to address [security problems] and ensure peaceful and orderly elections. It’s up to our commanders to adjust and make some tweaks to attain this,” he added. SFM
