Army chief reminds soldiers to stay away from politics

CATBALOGAN CITY, Samar, Feb. 19 (PNA) -– Philippine Army Commander Lt. Gen. Eduardo Año reiterated his order to all military units not to allow anyone to campaign in their camps as they heed mandates to be non-partisan this election season.

Año said that they will treat all politicians fairly even those candidates of the administration’s Liberal Party although some of them will be asked to secure some candidates in areas of concerns.

The military might provide security to candidates during the campaign period to prevent harassment from New People’s Army (NPA) rebels for as long as the request is approved by the joint committee of the Commission on Elections, military and police.

“There should be no campaigning inside the camp, no campaign materials should be posted within the camp vicinity, and politicians are not allowed to deliver public address to soldiers,” he told reporters during his visit to the Army’s 8th Infantry Division headquarters on Thursday.

He reminded soldiers and civilian employees to avoid wearing politically partisan shirts or vests, ballers, caps and other campaign trinkets in and out of military camps.

“There is a notion that government troops will support Liberal Party candidates. That is not true because even the President ordered us not to campaign for any candidate,” he added.

Earlier, Año asked Army commanders to draw plans to ensure honest, orderly, and peaceful elections in their area, including measures to ensure that all soldiers are not involved in partisan activities.

“We have monitoring mechanism for their compliance to the rules. We will never tolerate partisan politics from our highest commander up to the lowest personnel,” he added. (PNA)
LAP/SARWELL Q. MENIANO