Rody told: Don’t politicize AFP, PNP

A congressman on Sunday appealed to former president Rodrigo Duterte not to drag the military and police into his row with the House of Representatives.

House Majority Leader Mannix Dalipe made the call as Duterte warned that Congress should be wary of the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the Philippine National Police.

Duterte cited the alleged developing alliance between Speaker Martin Romualdez and ACT Teachers Partylist Rep. France Castro, whom the former president accused of being a communist.

He added that Castro raises uneasiness among uniformed personnel, referring to members of the AFP and PNP.

"I respectfully appeal to former President Rodrigo Duterte to recognize the paramount importance of keeping our armed forces and national police free from partisan politics," Dalipe said.

"These institutions serve as the bedrock of our nation's security, and their effectiveness relies on unity and impartiality," the lawmaker added.

Dalipe said that a lot has already been accomplished toward professionalizing the military and police, only for those gains to be "squandered away."

He said that Duterte has placed both the AFP and PNP in a bad light because of his statements.

During his "Gikan sa Masa Para sa Masa TV" program on SMNI on Wednesday night, Duterte warned Congress to "watch the military and the police closely."

However, Salvador Panelo, Duterte's ex-spokesperson and chief legal counsel, said the former president's statement was only in response to Apollo Quiboloy's question on the potential justification for the AFP and PNP to launch a coup due to extreme corruption.

"You who are conniving (with leftist groups) in Congress. I am not scaring you, but watch the military and the police closely," Duterte said.

Also appearing at SMNI, Panelo said Duterte only reminded government officials that they'll have a problem with the AFP if they are not doing their sworn duty.

Dalipe reckoned that the AFP and PNP have more important things to do than watch Congress. He said Duterte should put the nation's well-being ahead of political interests.

Duterte has issued strong statements against the House over its denial of the P650-million confidential funding request of Vice President Sara Duterte in the proposed P5.768-trillion 2024 budget.