MANILA, Philippines鈥擳here was no top level coordination from the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) with Vice President Leni Robredo during the onslaught of Typhoon Ulysses because the Vice President made no request or distress call that needed approval of the AFP leadership.
Maj. Gen. Edgard Arevalo, AFP spokesperson, issued this statement on Wednesday (Nov. 18) to clarify that the military had no official role in Robredo鈥檚 rescue efforts.
The statement came after Malacanang described the Vice President鈥檚 facilitating of rescue requests in typhoon-stricken areas as usurpation of presidential powers and President Rodrigo Duterte lashed at his vice president for supposedly competing with him in bringing aid to typhoon survivors.
In his statement, Arevalo said the AFP General Headquarters (AFP GHQ) received 鈥渘o requests or information of distress calls鈥� from the 鈥淗onorable Vice President.鈥�
鈥淎ll directives to deploy disaster responders emanate鈥� from the AFP GHQ, said Arevalo. The AFP chief of staff holds office at the AFP GHQ, the military鈥檚 main headquarters in Camp Aguinaldo.
His statement said that 鈥渂e that as it may鈥� that 鈥渋f ever鈥� the Vice President coordinated with 鈥渙perational commanders鈥� as her 鈥渃ontacts on the ground,鈥� as Robredo said in her tweet, these commanders 鈥渨ill render appropriate actions as circumscribed in the orders鈥� of the President, secretary of defense and AFP chief who would 鈥減rovide the needed assistance鈥攚ith the information coming from the VP.鈥�
Duterte falsely claimed in his late night televised speech on Tuesday that Robredo issued orders to the military for rescue operations.
鈥淵ou know those military officers, they won鈥檛 believe. you,鈥� said Duterte in Filipino, addressing himself to Robredo. 鈥淏ecause they are right鈥攜ou are not in the line of authority. You don鈥檛 have鈥n times of emergency, I and the military alone,鈥� he added.
On Wednesday, Robredo said she was merely passing on distress calls to 鈥渨hoever was on the ground,鈥� including police, military and other government officials at the height of Cagayan Valley flooding.
鈥淭he claim that I have been giving orders to the military, that is wrong,鈥� she told reporters.
TSB