Robredo sees apolitical military, so far

Vice President Leni Robredo believes that the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) remains apolitical, at least for now.

"Tingin ko, at this point, hindi pa. Sana hindi mangyari. Ako, at this point, totoo na may pagsubok na i-politicize siya, pero so far holding well ang military (I think, at this point, it's not. I hope it doesn’t not happen. At this point, it is true there are attempts to politicize it, but so far the military is holding well),” Robredo said.

In an interview with Manila Bulletin columnist and lawyer Mel Sta. Maria, Robredo was asked if the military is being politicized in the context of Duterte’s order to them to arrest Senator Antonio Trillanes IV after the revocation of his amnesty.

The Vice President, in her reply, noted that the AFP is a professional organization, whose loyalty remains to the country’s flag and the Constitution above anyone else.

Robredo wants the armed forces to keep it that way.

“Na-resist niya iyong mga efforts ng mga pulitiko na ma-influence iyong kaniyang desisyon .... At ako, very hopeful ako na until the end ganoon (They were able to resist efforts of politicians to influence their decision... And I’m hopeful that until the end, it will be that way),” she added.

“Alam natin na while sumusunod sa commander-in-chief, may hangganan iyon (We know while they follow the commander-in-chief, it has limits too),” the former Camarines Sur representative added.

Since she assumed office, Robredo had received a national security briefing twice from then AFP chiefs Rey Leonardo Guerrero and Carlito Galvez.

Robredo recalled the officials assured her that their loyalty will always be to the Philippine flag and the Constitution.