MALINAW na pangungutya sa integridad at propesyonalismo ang naging panawagan ni Davao del Norte Rep. Pantaleon Alvarez sa Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) at Philippine National Police (PNP) na bawiin ng mga ito ang kanilang suporta mula kay Pangulong Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.
“Both institutions are loyal to the Constitution, the rule of law, the chain of command, and the President as Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces. Insinuations to the contrary are baseless and unfounded,” ayon kay National Security Adviser (NSA) Eduardo Año.
Para kay Año, maituturing na “illegal at unconstitutional” ang ginawang hakbang ng isang public official, lalo pa’t isang high-ranking military reservist.
“It erodes the very foundation of our democratic institutions and undermines the supremacy of civilian authority over the military. Such utterances and actions can be construed as seditious or rebellious and they have no place in our society,” dagdag na wika nito.
Tinuran pa rin nito na ang armed forces sa isang ‘democratic country’ gaya ng Pilipinas ay “neutral at apolitical” at nakatuon sa pagsisilbi sa interest ng bayan.
“Rep. Alvarez, and others who may be similarly inclined, should not drag such respected institutions to serve their partisan agenda or self-interest, even if such calls are made, as he claimed, in a fit of emotion,” ayon sa NSA.
Sa kabilang dako, nanawagan naman si Año sa Department of Justice (DOJ) na masusing rebisahin ang bagay na ito at ikonsidera ang akmang legal na aksyon laban kay Alvarez at iba sa iba pang kahalintulad na indibiduwal.
“His words and deeds are a disservice to our men and women in uniform who risk their lives daily to safeguard our nation’s security, defend us from all manner of threats, and uphold the Constitution,” diing pahayag ni Alvarez.
Samantala, hiniling na ng Philippine Navy kay Alvarez na ipaliwanag nito ang kanyang naging panawagan. Kris Jose
