The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) reiterated that it is a non-partisan institution after Vice President Sara Duterte said that the silence of the military on the arrest of former President Rodrigo Duterte is "disturbing".

Col. Xerxes Trinidad, AFP public affairs office chief, assures that the military remains steadfast in its sworn duty to protect the Filipino people, defend the Constitution, and uphold democracy.

"The AFP’s role is to defend the country and uphold stability, not to interfere in political matters. Any concerns about governance should be resolved through lawful and democratic means," he said.

"The strength of our democracy lies in respecting institutions, following due process, ensuring justice through established legal channels, and selecting executive and legislative officials through elections," he added.

In her appearance during the Senate hearing of the committee on foreign relations last week, Vice President Duterte asked "why did the AFP stand idly by when a former commander in chief was taken from a military base under questionable circumstances?”

During the same hearing, Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro explained that during the arrest of the former president, the Department of National Defense and AFP were just "deputized to support the Philippine National Police."

"It is part of the Constitutional duty of the Armed Forces to follow processes. If we were to question those orders, even under color of law, under color of right, then it would amount to the armed forces acting unilaterally on its own, which is anathema to civilian authority over the military," he said.

Trinidad noted that "the 1987 Constitution is clear - the Armed Forces is a non-partisan institution. Section 5(3), Article XVI explicitly prohibits military personnel from engaging in political activities. Any deviation from this principle would undermine the very democracy we are bound to protect."

"The AFP stands firm in its duty always in service of the Filipino People, with unwavering commitment to the Constitution," he added. Robina Asido/DMS