Pimentel to Alvarez: Leave the military out of politics

SENATE Minority Leader Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel 3rd. Photo by Senate PRIB

MANILA, Philippines: Sen. Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel 3rd appealed to Rep. Pantaleon Alvarez to insulate the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) from politics after he called on the military to withdraw support from President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.

The senator, in a statement on Tuesday, said the country’s leadership “should not be determined or left to be determined by the armed forces or any armed group.”

“Let us insulate our armed forces from politics so that they can develop into a more professional, disciplined, and inspired group,” Pimentel said.

Alvarez on Sunday night urged the AFP to withdraw support for Marcos, presumably to head off a conflict with China over the West Philippine Sea and said he was merely exercising this right to free speech,

A known ally of former president Rodrigo Duterte, Alvarez made his call during a rally of Duterte supporters in Tagum City.

The AFP on Monday rejected Alvarez’s call for the military to withdraw its support for the President while the colleagues of the former House speaker warned him that his action was tantamount to inciting rebellion.

Col. Francel Margareth Padilla, AFP spokesman, said the AFP “reiterates its unwavering commitment to professionalism, loyalty to the Constitution and strict adherence to the chain of command.”

Pimentel has encouraged the Davao del Norte representative to “continue to speak out on the burning issues of the day.”

The Senate minority leader said “the political leadership in the Philippines should be settled through honest elections.”

He also asked House of Representatives’ Deputy Speaker Johnny Pimentel not to file criminal cases against Alvarez “to uphold and strengthen the right to free speech and to assemble with people of similar positions in the burning issues of the day.”

“We should not encourage the filing of criminal cases left and right for comments related to the burning issues of the day,” the senator said.

“Let the people speak out. Do not deter or scare them from speaking out their sentiments on important issues,” he added.