MANILA, Philippines – Bangon Pilipinas standard-bearer Eduardo Villanueva called on the military and police to abide by the Constitution and not to allow themselves to be used by politicians in the May elections.
Villanueva made the call amid concerns over President Arroyo's appointment of Lt. Gen. Delfin Bangit as the new Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Chief of Staff.
Mrs. Arroyo’s critics said Bangit, a former chief of the Presidential Security Group (PSG) and the Intelligence Service of the AFP (ISAFP), is perceived to be very loyal to the President and could use the military to manipulate the outcome of the May polls.
He assumed the AFP leadership in a turnover ceremony at Camp Aguinaldo in Quezon City yesterday.
“To our soldiers and policemen, put God in your hearts and serve the country faithfully in the elections. Remain loyal solely to the Constitution and not with anyone else. Offer the performance of your duties and actions on May 10 solely for God and country,” Villanueva said.
He added that the elections are the ultimate expression of the people’s sovereign will.
“Any act to subvert this sacred will must be rejected and if possible, vigorously opposed. Do not allow yourselves to be used to manipulate or cheat in the elections,” he said
Villanueva said his party views with deep concern the appointment of Bangit as the new AFP chief of staff.
President Arroyo was embroiled in the "Hello Garci" scandal during the 2004 elections, where audio tapes revealed a Commission on Elections (Comelec) official engaging in a phone conversation with a woman purportedly to be Mrs. Arroyo.
The conversation between the Comelec official and the woman was allegedly about manipulating votes in Mindanao in favor of the latter.
Mrs. Arroyo eventually admitted that talking to then Comelec commissioner Virgilio Garcillano might have been an error in judgment. She later apologized on national television.
Villanueva, meanwhile, also urged the public to remain vigilant during the elections.
By Dennis Carcamo
philstar.com
Updated March 11, 2010 01:33 PM
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