ARMED Forces chief Gen. Romeo Brawner Jr yesterday rejected a call made by former President Rodrigo Duterte for the military to intervene to protect the Constitution amid what Duterte called a fractured government, while Justice Undersecretary Jesse Hermogenes Andres said Duterte’s call is “seditious and legally actionable.”
“That is not our job,” Brawner said during the closing of the AFP Leadership Summit 2024 at the AFP general headquarters at Camp Aguinaldo in Quezon City. “Our job is to protect the Republic of the Philippines, protect its people, defend our territory, and defend our sovereignty and our sovereign rights.”
Brawner said the military respects the political beliefs of everyone but soldiers “cannot just air our grievances freely, being members of the Armed Forces of the Philippines.”
He said soldiers who wish to express political beliefs in public should first leave the service.
“If you want to do that, take off your uniform. That’s the time you’re free to do what you want,” he said.
Duterte on Monday night said there is “a fracture in government, and only the military can see the solution.”
Malacañang on Tuesday said Duterte should respect the Constitution and stop being “irresponsible.”
Andres said there is no such thing as a fractured government.
“It is a great disservice to the country and an insult to the working bureaucracy for the former President to portray the government as if it is no longer delivering socio-economic assistance, health services, police protection, judicial recourse, and other services of a fully functioning democracy. We have an effective and strong republic,” he said.
“For him to invite the military to have a part in seeking remedy is bordering on sedition and is legally actionable … We do not know whether this is coming from the efforts of the former President or elsewhere. But again, we will have to look at every angle,” he added.
He said calling on the military to do its part to supposedly remedy a government is uncalled for and out of order as the military has no direct role in civil governance.
“Only the Supreme Court can make pronouncements on the legal infirmities of the actions of the executive and legislative branches, not the former President,” he added.
ADVENTURISM
Brawner said there would be no repeat of military adventurism that occurred in past administrations. He said soldiers “will not take the law into our hands.”
“We will remain professional. if they want change, we have a process in our democracy, so let’s allow that to happen,” he said.
Brawner also said he has spoken to military commanders through video teleconferencing to remind them of the vow they took when they entered the military service, which is to defend the Constitution and the Republic.
“That is our job. Our mandate is clear and we will make sure that our country is stable,” said Brawner, adding that the country will be at the losing end if the AFP heeds the call for military intervention.
“Our job as members of the Armed Forces of the Philippines is to make sure that our country is stable so that our democratic way of life will continue,” he added.
First Chief Master Sergeant Feliciano Lazo, the AFP’s Sergeant Major, said soldiers will not join any military adventurism which he said has destroyed the career of soldiers.
“We will remain loyal to the duly-constituted authority and to the chain of command,” said Lazo, adding that soldiers are professional and will remain focused in doing their job.
