AFP bans political campaigns within camps

By Ronron
February 15, 2007

Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Chief of Staff Gen. Hermogenes Esperon, Jr. has banned political campaigns inside military camps as the campaign season begins for the May 14 national elections.

In a news conference Thursday at Camp Aguinaldo, Esperon also reminded all officers, soldiers and civilian employees of the AFP not to publicly campaign for the candidates they support or want to vote, as this is not allowed by law.

According to him, the election campaign guidelines, which he gave out to military commanders in the field all over the country, are in accordance with Article XVI, Section 5 of the 1987 Constitution, Section 261 of the Omnibus Election Code, and the Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) between the Department of National Defense and the Commission on Elections (Comelec).

“These guidelines were set not to infringe on the individual rights of our soldiers and civilian employees but rather, to ensure that the Armed Forces of the Philippines, as an organization, remains to be nonpartisan,” Esperon said.

In particular, Esperon’s guidelines read: 1) prohibit the entry inside camps of any political candidate, without distinction, except for official business; 2) prohibit the display of posters, leaflets, stickers/banners of any political candidate inside military camps; and, 3) prohibit any member of the AFP, to include civilian employees, from either endorsing or campaigning publicly in any form for a particular candidate to any elective position.

Asked if they will enforce the same policy with the administration’s senatorial ticket, Esperon said: “There is no distinction. They cannot campaign inside camps… I’m sure the President will not tell us to campaign for anybody or vote for anybody.”

He said even campaign materials posted on fences of military camps will be removed in compliance with his directive.

On Saturday, the policy will be put to a test when the Philippine Military Academy (PMA) holds its annual alumni homecoming in Baguio City, where some of its graduates who are seeking elective posts this coming elections are expected to arrive, as well as Senate President Manuel Villar, who is their invited guest speaker.

“I would like to join the Board of Trustees of the Philippine Military Academy Alumni Association, Inc. in their appeal to all alumni who are attending the homecoming activities this weekend to go there with only one purpose – for homecoming activities. We would like to appeal to candidates not to do any campaigning while inside the grounds of Fort Del Pilar,” Esperon said.

Among the PMA alumni who are joining this electoral race are Senator Panfilo Lacson, former Philippine National Police (PNP) chief retired general Arturo Lomibao (who is reportedly running for Governor of Pangasinan), former Senator Gregorio Honasan, and resigned Lt. Senior Grade Antonio Trillanes IV.

Asked what if these candidates, including Villar, defy his order, Esperon said: “If they do, then I understand the Philippine Military Academy superintendent Gen. Leopoldo Maligalig has given instructions to the camp commander and to the military police to confiscate such campaign materials.”

Active members of the AFP who engage in active campaigning may also face legal actions, Esperon warned.

The AFP has been dragged into the alleged electoral fraud in the May 2004 polls after Esperon and other names of officers were mentioned in the so-called “Hello Garci” conversations./DMS