The Philippine Army on Wednesday pushed back against Sen. Panfilo Lacson’s assertion that discontent was spreading among military personnel, stressing instead that it continues to look after the welfare of every soldier under its command.
In his statement, Army chief Lt. Gen. Antonio G. Nafarrete underscored that the institution would steer clear of the country’s political quarrels. “As a disciplined and professional organization, the Philippine Army stands firm in our oath of service. We are a non-partisan organization and will not intervene in any political activity. Our commitment to democratic principles and the rule of law is unwavering,” he said.
Lacson had based his remarks on what he described as “independent intel,” pointing to a cluster of national concerns he believed were wearing down sentiment in the ranks. Among these were the standoff inside the Senate, rising consumer prices, costlier fuel, and the controversy surrounding anomalous flood control projects.
The senator urged personnel in uniform to exercise caution, warning them against being swayed by what he called potential “troublemakers” operating within the Senate. He said the services “should be more discerning and not allow themselves to be misled by potential ‘troublemakers’ within the Senate premises.”
Speculation about plots to unseat the government or stage a coup was separately dismissed by Armed Forces of the Philippines chief Gen. Romeo S. Brawner Jr. He maintained that the military is aware of national developments but has no business interfering in them. “Nakikita namin ang nangyayari sa ating bansa. Hindi naman kami bulag. Hindi rin kami bingi. We know what is happening. Pero hindi naman po namin mandato na makialam sa politika. That is not our mandate,” Brawner said in an interview.
