Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) chief-of-staff Gen. Romeo Brawner Jr. in an interview with reporters at Camp Aguinaldo. 黑料社 / John Eric Mendoza
MANILA, Philippines 鈥� Active military personnel should just resign if they want to express partisan political opinions, Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) chief-of-staff Gen. Romeo Brawner Jr. said on Wednesday.
Brawner reiterated that the AFP service members should only remain loyal to the Constitution.
鈥淲e recognize that all of us have political opinions, political inclinations, pero habang suot suot po natin ang ating uniporme, ay kailangan sundin natin ang Saligang Batas at protektahan natin ang bansa (but while we are wearing our uniform, we must follow the Constitution and protect the country),鈥� Brawner said in his speech at AFP Leadership Summit held at Camp Aguinaldo.
鈥淲e cannot just air our grievances just freely, being members of the Armed Forces of the Philippines. Kung gusto po natin gawin 鈥榶on, eh mag-resign na lang tayo. Hubarin na lang natin ang uniporme natin (If we want to do that, better to just resign. We should take off our uniform),鈥� he added.
Brawner also expressed confidence that military personnel will not resort to 鈥渁dventurism.鈥�
鈥淭hat is why we will not take the law into our own hands,鈥� he said. 鈥淲e will remain professional.鈥�
The AFP chief made such remarks after former President Rodrigo Duterte enjoined the military to 鈥渃orrect鈥� President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and his ally and cousin House Speaker Martin Romualdez due to 鈥渇ractured governance.鈥�
DOJ: Rodrigo Duterte鈥檚 鈥榝ractured governance鈥� remark bordering sedition
The Department of Justice said Duterte鈥檚 remarks are bordering on sedition, while the Office of the Executive Secretary treated this as a blatant call for the military to launch a coup.
READ: Rodrigo Duterte called out for trying to stir military vs Marcos
In response to the former president鈥檚 call to intervene, Brawner: 鈥淭hat is not our job. Our job is to protect the Republic of the Philippines, protect its people, defend our territory, and defend our sovereignty and our sovereign rights.鈥�
READ: Brawner: It鈥檚 not true that I will take over VP Duterte鈥檚 security group
The former president made such statements following her daughter Vice President Sara Duterte鈥檚 remarks on Friday that she had already talked to a person whom she supposedly instructed to kill Marcos, his wife First Lady Liza, and cousin Romualdez if she is killed.