The AFP can never be a spokesperson for clean elections; awareness campaign just a cover for urban militarization and AFP operations against PPLs
Friday April 27, 2007
The AFP can never be a spokesperson for clean elections; awareness campaign just a cover for urban militarization and AFP operations against progressive party-lists
"Through the Armed Forces of the Philippines' so-called voters' awareness campaign, voters are being pressured into supporting candidates of the Macapagal-Arroyo administration. The AFP should not have any role in a strictly civilian exercise. The military's involvement in the polls is a violation of electoral law, as well as a subversion of civilian authority."
This was the stand of Anakpawis Representative and political detainee Crispin Beltran over assertions of the AFP that it will continue with its education and public awareness campaign supposedly to help ensure clean elections on May 14. Beltran said that the Comelec should not have allowed the AFP leeway to conduct this campaign.
"Guarding the elections against fraud is not the job of the military. Neither is issuing sermons on whom Filipinos should vote for. They should not have a role in this civilian exercise. Malacanang and the Comelec should once more be taken to the task for allowing this to happen. The military should not be allowed to influence voters much less pressure them into supporting government candidates or voting against those who are critical of the Arroyo administration. The AFP should leave the elections and the electoral process alone. The AFP can never be a spokesperson for clean and honest elections," he said.
Beltran said that Maj. Gen. Benjamin Dolorfino, head of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) National Capital Region Command, was trying to justify urban militarization by projecting his troops as information disseminators for clean elections.
"This is such an empty and transparent ploy. Dolorfino must think that he is being clever. The only campaign the AFP is conducting in the urban centers is one against the progressive party-lists and the candidates of the Genuine Opposition. The AFP's continuing presence in the NCR is to inhibit the efforts of the progressive party-lists to reach more voters," he said.
Beltran said that Anakpawis and its supporters will be attending and monitoring these supposed information talks the AFP will be conducting. "We want to hear what kind of information and election advice Dolorfino and his troops intend to dole out to the civilian populace," he said. #
The AFP can never be a spokesperson for clean elections; awareness campaign just a cover for urban militarization and AFP operations against progressive party-lists
"Through the Armed Forces of the Philippines' so-called voters' awareness campaign, voters are being pressured into supporting candidates of the Macapagal-Arroyo administration. The AFP should not have any role in a strictly civilian exercise. The military's involvement in the polls is a violation of electoral law, as well as a subversion of civilian authority."
This was the stand of Anakpawis Representative and political detainee Crispin Beltran over assertions of the AFP that it will continue with its education and public awareness campaign supposedly to help ensure clean elections on May 14. Beltran said that the Comelec should not have allowed the AFP leeway to conduct this campaign.
"Guarding the elections against fraud is not the job of the military. Neither is issuing sermons on whom Filipinos should vote for. They should not have a role in this civilian exercise. Malacanang and the Comelec should once more be taken to the task for allowing this to happen. The military should not be allowed to influence voters much less pressure them into supporting government candidates or voting against those who are critical of the Arroyo administration. The AFP should leave the elections and the electoral process alone. The AFP can never be a spokesperson for clean and honest elections," he said.
Beltran said that Maj. Gen. Benjamin Dolorfino, head of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) National Capital Region Command, was trying to justify urban militarization by projecting his troops as information disseminators for clean elections.
"This is such an empty and transparent ploy. Dolorfino must think that he is being clever. The only campaign the AFP is conducting in the urban centers is one against the progressive party-lists and the candidates of the Genuine Opposition. The AFP's continuing presence in the NCR is to inhibit the efforts of the progressive party-lists to reach more voters," he said.
Beltran said that Anakpawis and its supporters will be attending and monitoring these supposed information talks the AFP will be conducting. "We want to hear what kind of information and election advice Dolorfino and his troops intend to dole out to the civilian populace," he said. #
posted at 5:44 PM
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