MANILA, Philippines- Sinabi ng Armed Forces of the Philippines nitong Martes na hindi kinakailangan ng loyalty check sa mga ranggo ito sa gitna ng umiiral na “alitan” sa pagitan nina Pangulong Ferdinand Marcos Jr. at Vice President Sara Duterte.
Sa isang press briefing sa Camp Aguinaldo sa Quezon City, inulit ni AFP spokesperson Col. Francel Margareth Padilla ang pahayag ni AFP chief of staff Gen. Romeo Brawner Jr. na nananatiling tapat ang militar sa Konstitusyon at sa Chain of Command.
“We are facing greater challenges that require the strength of a unified country and armed forces. As a cornerstone of national stability, the AFP shall remain non-partisan with utmost respect to democratic institutions and civilian authority,” ani Padilla
“There is no need for a loyalty check. As the chief of staff said, he trusts that each soldier will perform his mandate and remain professional. Ang aming loyalty is to the Flag and to the Constitution, and we adhere to the Chain of Command,” dagdag niya.
Nanawagan si AFP chief of staff Brawner nitong Lunes sa mga sundalo na manatiling tapat sa Konstitusyon sa gitna ng alitan sa pagitan ng dalawang pinakamataas na pinuno ng bansa.
“We just have to remind ourselves of the vow, yung panata na ginawa po natin nung tayo ay bagong pasok lamang sa serbisyo and up to now,” ayon sa military chief sa seremonya sa Camp Aguinaldo.
“In that vow, sinabi po natin that we vow to defend the Constitution of the Philippines. That means that we have to follow the chain of command. Sinabi natin we are loyal to our country; we are loyal to our flag; we are loyal to our organization; and we are loyal to the Constitution.”
Nang kunan ng komento hinggil sa panawagan ni dating Pangulong Rodrigo Duterte para sa military intervention “to protect the Constitution” sa gitna ng inilarawan niyang “fractured” government, sinabi ni Padilla na: “The AFP acts as a barometer in all these issues. As our chief of staff has already stated, our AFP is united and professional. We respectfully request that we are shunned away from political issues.”
“We assure the public that we trust that each member of the AFP remains professional in all of this. We request that we do not lose focus on the bigger challenge we are facing ahead,” dagdag ng opisyal.
“We call for calm and resolve, and for everyone to hold on to our values of respect and nationalism that will guide us through these trying times,” ayon pa kay Padilla.
“We reiterate our need to stand together against those who will break our bonds as Filipinos,” patuloy niya. RNT/SA
