The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) reaffirmed its commitment to remaining apolitical and focused on its duty to protect the Filipino people and defend the Constitution.
This statement comes amid ongoing discussions questioning the AFP’s role and responsibilities.
The AFP emphasized that it is a non-partisan institution, as mandated by the 1987 Constitution, citing Section 5(3), Article XVI, which explicitly prohibits military personnel from engaging in political activities.
“The AFP’s role is to defend the country and uphold stability, not to interfere in political matters. Any concerns about governance should be resolved through lawful and democratic means,“ the AFP said in a statement.
Although the military did not mention it directly, the AFP Public Affairs Office released the statement after Vice President Sara Duterte referenced what she called the military's silence on the International Criminal Court’s (ICC) controversial arrest order for former President Rodrigo Duterte.
Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro responded to the Vice President’s statement, emphasizing that the AFP’s duty is to assist the Philippine National Police (PNP) in law enforcement operations.
In a separate statement, AFP Chief Public Affairs Officer Col. Xerxes Trinidad reiterated that the 1987 Constitution clearly defines the military as a non-partisan institution.
Meanwhile, in a separate call, AFP Spokesperson Col. Francel Padilla urged all sectors to refrain from drawing the military into political issues.
