SENATE Minority Leader Aquilino Martin 鈥淜oko鈥 D. Pimentel rejected on Tuesday a congressman鈥檚 call for the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) to withdraw its support for President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr., saying military and political affairs should be kept separate.
鈥淟et us insulate our armed forces from politics so that they can develop into a more professional, disciplined, and inspired group,鈥 he said in a Viber message.
He also said sedition or criminal charges should not be filed against Davao del Norte Rep. Pantaleon D. Alvarez over his remarks on the President鈥檚 foreign policy on the South China Sea.
The lawmaker on Sunday said the AFP should withdraw its support for the President to de-escalate tensions with Beijing over incursions in the disputed waters.聽
Camiguin Rep. Jurdin Jesus M. Romualdo on Monday said the Justice department should file sedition charges against the congressman over his alleged prodding of the AFP to abandon the Commander-in-Chief.
鈥淎t the same time, we should not encourage the filing of criminal cases left and right for comments related to the burning issues of the day,鈥 the senator said. 鈥淟et the people speak out. Do not deter or scare them from speaking out their sentiments on important issues.鈥
In a statement on Monday, Defense Secretary Gilberto C. Teodoro, Jr. said the call to withdraw support for the President goes against national interests.
鈥淎ny attempt to sway them (AFP) away from this duty or to patronize them to support a partisan agenda is futile, particularly when this agenda dovetails with a foreign interest contrary to our own national interests,鈥 he said.
鈥淐alls for them to 鈥榳ithdraw support鈥 will not amount to anything but a possible criminal investigation.鈥
Meanwhile, Mr. Alvarez defended his position, stressing that his remarks do not qualify as seditious or disorderly conduct.
鈥淲hy are my statements considered seditious or disorderly if they were delivered peacefully and orderly?鈥 said Mr. Alvarez, noting that his remarks are protected under law as freedom of expression. 鈥 John Victor D. Ordo帽ez with a report from Kenneth Christiane L. Basilio
