AFP chief: We'll follow Constitution

MANILA, Philippines - No matter what happens, the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) would stand behind the Constitution as a professional and apolitical organization.

Bearing in mind its constitutional mandate, AFP chief Gen. Victor Ibrado said soldiers are now aware of their duty to the people they have sworn to protect, and would disobey what could be perceived as illegal orders.

“We have been telling our troops that they should not follow orders if they know it is illegal,” Ibrado said.

Military information chief Lt. Col. Romeo Brawner Jr., however, stressed that the troops are still tasked to take orders properly given from within the chain of command.

The military top brass made the statements in response to claims of “disturbing trends” by former defense chief Avelino Cruz that the AFP would be used to implement emergency rule.

Cruz said recent developments showed President Arroyo might impose martial rule and prevent the 2010 elections from pushing through.

The former defense chief drew his observations from events that led to the late strongman Ferdinand Marcos’ decision to declare martial law in September 1972.

In the event this supposed martial rule plan pushes through, Cruz said it would be a clear violation of the Constitution and called on the soldiers to defy such illegal orders.

“There’s no need for the public, including former defense Secretary Cruz, to remind the soldiers of this, because the AFP will not allow itself to be used by any group or organization for their political ambitions,” Brawner said.

Brawner also assured Cruz that even without his reminder, soldiers have standing orders to follow the chain of command.

Even in the event of a radical overhaul of the Constitution, Brawner said the AFP will only take and obey orders from the duly constituted authorities.

Brawner said the AFP has not received any verbal or direct order to prepare for possible enforcement of emergency rule.

“Instead of being affected by these talks of martial law, the AFP is doing its mandate to defeat all threats to internal security,” Brawner said.

Ibrado also described as “highly presumptuous” the warning aired by Cruz that the Arroyo administration has been setting the stage for military rule.

“He (Cruz) was implying that the government was behind the series of incidents (bombings). I will not agree with that. As far as I know there is no such plan and I think it’s highly presumptuous to say that the government was behind these bombings,” he said.

Ibrado noted Cruz, former chief legal counsel of Mrs. Arroyo, resigned as Defense chief in November 2006.

Ibrado said Cruz resigned from the Cabinet as a strong statement against alleged plans of the administration to amend the Constitution.

Ibrado said Cruz’s latest statements calling on the troops to follow the Constitution is not necessary.

“His (Cruz) statement was all about loyalty to the Constitution, upholding the Constitution and that is what we have been saying and telling our troops all along,” Ibrado said.

Even as Malacañang assured the public that elections would push through next year, critics and the opposition kept announcing supposed plans of the administration to extend Mrs. Arroyo’s term of office, either by amending the Constitutional or declaring emergency rule.

The President has maintained the need for the country to overhaul its political system and implement social reforms.

National Security Adviser Norberto Gonzales also stressed the need to amend the Constitution but conceded the political scenery would never allow substantial changes to occur.

Gonzales also proposed the creation of a transition president that could serve for three years only and be brave enough to implement constitutional changes and allow elections under the new political system.

Detained Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV revealed yesterday Gonzales is already forming the transition council in what is described as a “soft coup.”

Trillanes’ spokesman Reynaldo Robles revealed Gonzales approached the leader of a group called Kilusang Makabayan Economiya to be part of the transition council to be headed by Chief Justice Reynato Puno.

Opposition leader Makati City Mayor Jejomar Binay also revealed Gonzales offered Puno to head the supposed transition council.

Binay said Gonzales is apparently following the order of Mrs. Arroyo.

He said Gonzales would not have had the courage to seek an audience with Puno and offer the position without the President’s knowledge.

“His (Gonzales’) sole concern is to consolidate Mrs. Arroyo’s grip on power beyond 2010 by all means, and this includes enticing the Chief Justice with the idea of leading a transition council,” Binay said.

Binay said the proposed transition council peddled by Gonzales would just be a civilian-military junta in disguise since Mrs. Arroyo will continue to wield her commander-in-chief powers over the military. – With Jose Rodel Clapano, Perseus Echeminada