AFP: Democracy in PHL still alive

The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) on Friday reiterated that democracy is doing well in the Philippines despite the concerns raised by over 60 lawmakers on the alleged crackdown against progressive groups.

In a statement, AFP spokesman Brigadier General Edgard Arevalo stressed that democracy is still prevalent in the country as Filipinos can weigh in on relevant issues like the Filipino people’s fight against communist terrorist groups and their recruitment of minors, which proves that democracy is vibrant and alive.

The AFP spokesman maintained that the military also had responsibilities as “protector of the people and securer of the state” even as the AFP continues to respect, uphold and defend freedom of expression.

“We cannot sit idly by in the comforts of air-conditioned halls while minors are in the verge of perdition in the clutches of the New People’s Army who are exploiting the former’s idealism and harping on social issues that government is addressing squarely,” said Arevalo.

“We cannot, in conscience, claim to have lived by our solemn oaths sitting on swivel chairs while groups hiding in the cloak of ‘progressive groups’ are clandestinely planning and arming to slay democracy and supplant it with communist terrorist rule.”

Arevalo also said that evidence against the progressives, legitimately recovered by security forces during their operations, were too glaring to ignore, but he noted that they are still open to having a dialogue with “well-meaning individuals” over the activities of alleged communist groups, including their so-called recruitment of the youth, because, at the end of the day, “Filipinos have one and the same republic to secure.”

“We intend to discuss what we have been saying all along about CTG infiltration; of left-leaning organizations that are wittingly or unwittingly being used as conduits in the transfer of funds from foreign funding agencies to the CTG; the recruitment of minors to be NPA Cadres and fighters; the exploitation of issues involving women and children or the alleged abuses of human rights and of Indigenous peoples,” said Arevalo.