The paid advertisement put up by retired military and police
officials denouncing the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro (CAB), the
Framework Agreement on the Bangsamoro (FAB), and the proposed Bangsamoro Basic
Law (BBL), was part and parcel of the democratic system, Armed Forces of the
Philippines (AFP) spokesperson Col. Restituto Padilla said Wednesday.
"As in other views expressed by other quarters and
civilian organizations, the AFP sees the paid announcement of our former
seniors and other retirees as part and parcel of our democratic practices. That
is enshrined in our democratic system. Anyone, within the bounds allowed by
law, can freely express their opinions, views and stand on matters they deem
important to them," Padilla said.
The paid advertisement was asking the Supreme Court to
declare as null and void the CAB, FAB, and the BBL as these agreements violate
the Constitution.
Padilla said the military respects this and they will work
within its constitutional mandate to ensure that this right is safeguarded for
benefit of every citizen.
And when asked whether the AFP shared these sentiments of
their former commanders, Padilla made this statement:
"As servicemen and women, we set aside our personal
biases and work for the common good. The AFP has provided its comments and
inputs in the preparation of the BBL and leave it to the collective wisdom of
those within the policy and legal branch of government to discern what is best
for the nation."
The AFP spokesperson also said the military "supports
peace initiatives that will stop violence, silence guns, bring stability and
normalcy to our communities, and allow for the economic development of our
provinces for the benefit of our citizens. The conversion of the instruments of
war into tools for peace is and will always be a welcomed development."
He added that the sentiments of these retired officials
would not affect the AFP's support for the BBL, FAB and the CAB.
The “Manifesto of Retired Officers,” which came out in a
major daily, was signed by 13 groups, including the Association of General and
Flag Officers Inc.; National ROTC Alumni Association, Inc.; Kampilan
Peacekeepers Association, Inc.; the Fraternal Organization of ROTC Reservists
and Veterans, Inc.; Filipino War Veterans Foundation, Inc.; Philippine National
Police Retirees Association, Inc.; Veteran Generals and Flag Officers
Federation; Cavaliers 57, Inc.; Philippine Military Academy Alumni Association,
Inc.; Kapisanan ng Kawal Mindanao; Philippine Defense and Armed Forces Attache Association;
the Last Watering Hole, Inc.; and the Reform the Armed Forces Movement
Foundation, Inc, called the CAB, FAB, BBL unconstitutional.
Retired PNP chief Umberto A. Rodriguez also signed the
manifesto, together with retired AFP chiefs Efren I. Abu, Dionisio R. Santiago,
Generoso S. Sengu and Alexander B. Yano. (
http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=1&sid=&nid=1&rid=804623
No comments:
Post a Comment
Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.