The military asserted on Monday its political neutrality ahead of the May 2022 elections as it distanced itself from the statement of retired Army Lt. General Antonio Parlade Jr., who may have insinuated that the uniform service has a contentious issue to settle with Senator and presidential aspirant Bong Go.
Parlade, who served as a commander of the Armed Forces Southern Luzon Command and spokesman of the National Task Force to End Communist Conflict, filed on Monday his candidacy for the top Palace post under the Katipunan ng Demokratikong Pilipino Party.
Successive tweets posted by CNN Philippines quoted the retired Army general as saying that he could not align himself with Go because the senator had also been part of the country’s problems, and that the Armed Forces of the Philippines should be asked the question “why?”
Explaining himself, Parlade, in his tweets said, he could not align himself with Go on how he tend to control things, “including controlling the decisions of President Duterte.”
He said, he’s also not running under PDP-Laban because, “I cannot support Senator Bong Go” for President. He added, “because he [Go] is part of the problem,” adding that, “I’m sorry, I just don’t like the way he [Go] does things; including controlling the decisions of the President.”
Responding to Parlade’s statement, the military reiterated it remains non-partisan.
“Our mandate is clear. Our task is to ensure the peace and security of the elections and allow the will of the Filipino people to manifest and prevail,” Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) spokesman Col. Ramon Zagala said.
Zagala’s statement was promptly supported by the Army, through its spokesman Lt. Col. Xerxes Trinidad.
“The Army leadership remains to be non-partisan in this coming NLE [national and local elections] 2022. We refrain from indulging our personnel to participate in any political activity and actions of our political aspirants and candidates in order for us to assist in the conduct of a just, safe, peaceful, and orderly election,” Trinidad said.
Parlade said he had been “forced” to join the presidential elections because of the ongoing “political circus,” which, he said, would keep the country in stagnant state.
At Camp Crame, meanwhile, the Philippine National Police (PNP) vowed to investigate the alleged harassment of supporters of presidential candidate Panfilo Lacson and his running mate Vicente Sotto III in Manila by policemen.
“The MPD [Manila Police Department] leadership has directed all station commanders to check if the alleged incident took place in their respective areas because it was unclear in the allegations which specific area in Manila the incident happened,” the PNP said in a news statement.
“If during the course of investigation, it will be found out that a violation was committed by some personnel, they will be held liable and accountable for their actions,” it added.
“The PNP maintains its apolitical stance and shall never allow its personnel to be used or abused in [pursuit of a] political agenda,” it added.
Police General Guillermo Eleazar, who retired as chief of the PNP on Friday, filed his senatorial candidacy on Monday under the Lacson-Sotto ticket along with Presidential spokesman Harry Roque at the Commission on Elections on Monday, the last day of substation for the May polls.
Roque is running under the People’s Reform Party, substituting Paolo Mario Martelino. He was accompanied by his wife, Mylah.
In an interview, Roque said he would support President Duterte on his candidacy for next year’s polls, though he did not reveal what position he is running for.
“When I filed my certificate of candidacy, it’s not only Mayor Inday Sara that I’m supporting. I will also join President Rodrigo Roa Duterte in his position to run. The president and I will not separate,” he said.
He said a representative for Duterte would file his COC on his behalf on Monday afternoon.
Eleazar also filed his COC as substitute for Paolo Capino under the Partido Para sa Demokratikong Reporma.