IS it wise to tap the military for poll duty in the coming elections?
Here’s what the Philippine Navy’s second-in-command had to say in this article by INQUIRER.net reporter Joel Guinto.
“As far as we are concerned, we don’t want election duties, so there will be no issue against the Armed Forces,” Navy vice commander Rear Admiral Amable Tolentino told reporters Wednesday. “Even if we just do our jobs, it will be linked to the election issue.”
“If possible, we don’t want to be involved [in the elections], but we have the MoA [memorandum of agreement]. We still have to offer our capability and assets if needed,” said Tolentino, who inspected disaster response troops in this Navy base south of Manila.
The Navy vice chief was referring to the MoA signed by the Department of National Defense (DND) and the Commission on Elections (Comelec) in October 2006, which limits the role of soldiers during elections to responding to “serious armed threats” as determined by the poll body.
June 9th, 2007 at 9:18 am
Lean Porquia
According to the Bill of Rights in the constitution, it is an absolute power that civilian supremacy is higher than that of the military or any armed elements of the government. Let me jump off in this hypothesis, if the military is supposedly the protector of civil liberties, then it is oxymoronic that we hear nes sabout the military allegedly killing or harassing the people. Based on this observation, the Armed Forces of the Philippines should therefore be neutral and unbiased to the will of the people that it will not tolerate partisan politics. However what is present in the Philippine setting, that’s if we keep our feet on the grounds for realities in life, the military is actually in the forefront of the propaganda war that in a subtle way they campaign for the administration. Likewise, they are labeling progressive and leading partylist groups as communist fronts without substantial and concrete evidences to support their claim. It is imperative that the military should not expose its arms amidst the democratic system of election because it is a factor to influence the public by showinbg its force and strength. Therefore, I challenge the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the Philippine National Police to genuinely serve the people. I challenge you also to prevent anymore political killings in the country and stop using the RPA-ABB “bastards� as a front to kill and abduct activists.
******************************
Fr: Salina
Yep! The soldier suppose to protect and serve the filipino people but yet they’re the one killing the filipino people because they can. The problem with our government is they’re the one using the AFP/PNP their own endeaver. Remember “Hello, Garci” Most of the people who help cheat for Gloria Arroyo, Aside for comelec is, The higher ranking of Military, The lower ranking of military who doesn’t want to participate get in trouble if they’re not going to follow order from these higher ranking AFP/PNP.
Aside from that these people who participate on the cheating operation in May 2004. Presidential election got promoted to the highest rank possible.
Its the pay back of their success. Of cheating operation to ensure that Gloria Arroyo, Win the election. These idiots should be in jail.
I hate to say this, But the AFP/PNP/JUSTICE SYSTEM. Has been use by the people who is squatting in malacanyang palace. This is the biggest problem. These people are not doing their job they suppose too. We don’t need this kind of people working in any government office’s. Its time to overhaul the entire corrupt government. Punish the guilty and throw their ass in jail. This is the only way the Philippines can move forward.
I guess these government employees, Forgotten that the taxespayer’s the one paying their salary. So we have the power to kick their ass out. ENOUGH ALREADY.
May 30th, 2007 at 10:27 am
I salute to our military with high honors…they face the bullets fighting for peace and what has the opposition and the party-list groups a.k.a NPA fronts does to them? discredit and blame them for the political killings without proof.They should stop their witchhunting.
May 26th, 2007 at 11:50 am
I totally agree with Military protecting the votes especially in the provinces. There have been numerous reports of the NPA and other rebel groups threatening the teachers canvassing the votes as well as the barangay captains if they do not favor certain partylists (left-wing) and candidates as well. Which is very sad. These communists need to be eradicated. Its the 20th century already and communism has been proven to be ineffective. It has not, and will not improve lives of the Filipino people.
To these party-list groups, enough lying and don’t dare appear in the rallies because you yourselves are guilty of cheating as well.
May 22nd, 2007 at 8:21 pm
According to the Bill of Rights in the constitution, it is an absolute power that civilian supremacy is higher than that of the military or any armed elements of the government. Let me jump off in this hypothesis, if the military is supposedly the protector of civil liberties, then it is oxymoronic that we hear nes sabout the military allegedly killing or harassing the people. Based on this observation, the Armed Forces of the Philippines should therefore be neutral and unbiased to the will of the people that it will not tolerate partisan politics. However what is present in the Philippine setting, that’s if we keep our feet on the grounds for realities in life, the military is actually in the forefront of the propaganda war that in a subtle way they campaign for the administration. Likewise, they are labeling progressive and leading partylist groups as communist fronts without substantial and concrete evidences to support their claim. It is imperative that the military should not expose its arms amidst the democratic system of election because it is a factor to influence the public by showinbg its force and strength. Therefore, I challenge the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the Philippine National Police to genuinely serve the people. I challenge you also to prevent anymore political killings in the country and stop using the RPA-ABB “bastards” as a front to kill and abduct activists.
May 19th, 2007 at 2:24 am
I salute the AFP for protecting the votes in Nueva Ecija.