Duterte orders uniformed men to be ‘strictly neutral’ in 2019 polls

FILE: President Rodrigo Roa Duterte and Secretary Christopher Lawrence “Bong” Go of the Office of the Special Assistant to the President interact with their supporters after the latter files his certificate of candidacy for his senatorial bid before the Commission on Elections (Comelec) in Intramuros, Manila on October 15, 2018. KING RODRIGUEZ/PRESIDENTIAL PHOTO

President Rodrigo Duterte on Monday, October 15, ordered the country’s military and police forces to become “strictly neutral” in the upcoming midterm elections.

“Let us make a deal here, promise, we make a commitment to the Filipino people. This election, (we must be all) strictly neutral tayong lahat,” the Commander-in-Chief said.

“The Armed Forces [of the Philippines] (AFP), the police, and the uniformed personnel of government, I am asking you not to indulge in partisan politics. Wala tayong susuportahan (We will not support anyone),” he added.

Duterte made this remark in a speech at the change of command of the Philippine Army in Fort Bonifacio, Taguig City.

While calling on the armed forces not to support any candidate in the 2019 elections, Duterte, chairman of the ruling Partido Demokratiko Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan (PDP-Laban) said he will campaign for his bets, stressing that it is a “political position.”

“Iyong mga kandidato ko, ako lang (I will support my candidates) because this is a political position. But I expect everybody to respect that constitutional prohibition,” he said.

In his speech, the President also reiterated his promise to the public that the next year’s elections will be clean and orderly.

“I’ll announce to the country now that we make a pledge: There will be an election and it will be an honest one,” he noted.

The Chief Executive stressed that no one, not even his allies including Special Assistant to the President Christopher “Bong” Go, could use government funds for their campaign.

“Nobody but nobody can use government resources, not even Bong. I will not allow it,” the President uttered.

Before he witnessed the turnover of command between Lieutenant General Rolando Bautista and his successor as the commanding general of the army, Major General Macairog Alberto, Duterte accompanied Go at the Commission on Elections (Comelec) office in Intramuros, Manila to file the latter’s certificate of candidacy (COC) for senator.

Several members of the Duterte cabinet who were also with Go at the Comelec were as follows: Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea, Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO) Secretary Martin Andanar, and outgoing Foreign Affairs Secretary Alan Cayetano.

The Philippines is set to hold its midterm polls in May 2019.