MANILA, Philippines – SINABI ni Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. na hindi maiimpluwensiyahan ang mga active-duty members ng Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) ng panawagan para sa pakikiisa sa mga Philippine Military Academy (PMA) alumni na suportado si Sen. Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa.
“That probably will influence those who are retired for political support. But those in the ranks are professionals—this will not affect them,” ang sinabi ni Teodoro sa sidelines ng 45th anniversary ng 5th Infantry Division sa Gamu, Isabela.
Tugon ito ni Teodoro nang tanungin ukol sa “manifestation of support” mula sa mga miyembro ng PMA “Sinagtala” Class of 1986, na nagpahayag ng pagsuporta sa kanilang kaklase na si Dela Rosa.
Sa ulat, kinumpirma ng International Criminal Court (ICC) na naglabas ang tribunal ng warrant of arrest laban kay Senador Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa, ang unang itinalagang hepe ng Philippine National Police (PNP) ni dating Pangulong Rodrigo Duterte. Ang kaso ay kaugnay ng mga pagpatay sa ilalim ng war on drugs campaign ng nakaraang administrasyon.
Batay sa 16-pahinang dokumento ng ICC, nakasaad na “classified as secret” ang arrest warrant pero “may be communicated to, or its existence be revealed to States, international organizations or competent persons, and that the existence of the Prosecution’s application for the present warrant, currently classified as under seal, may similarly be mentioned to States, international organisations or competent persons.”
Kaugnay nito, kinilala ni Teodoro ang military duty at political advocacy, sabay sabing ang apela na nag-ugat sa class o fraternity ties ay walang legal o institutional basis sa loob ng AFP.
“That’s a law enforcement issue. There’s a big distinction between a political and law enforcementissue anda military issue and a national defense issue,” aniya pa rin.
“It is very clear to the Armed Forces that they have learned the lessons of improper meddling by the Armed Forces in politics,” dagdag na wika nito.
Tinuran pa ni Teodoro na ang panawagan para sa institutional o class-based military alignment ay ‘inconsistent’ sa Saligang Batas at mandato ng AFP bilang isang non-partisan force.
“Any calls for the Armed Forces to act in class or whatnot from any party have no basis in law,” anito sabay sabing “It is a gross and mistaken misinterpretation of the Constitution.”
Idinagdag pa niya na ang active-duty personnel ay inaasahan na manatiling naka-pokus sa kanilang tungkulin habang kinikilala na ang mga retired officers ay mas malamang na nasasangkot sa political expression. KRIS JOSE
