Army denies destroying Trillanes’ posters

The Philippine Army denied on Sunday that it was behind the alleged move to destroy the campaign ads of jailed opposition senatorial candidate Lt. Senior Grade Antonio Trillanes IV, posted near Army camps. In a telephone interview, Army spokesman Lt. Col. Ernesto Torres said the removal of campaign ads of any candidate in the May polls posted outside military camps is not within the jurisdiction of the Armed Forces of the Philippines. “If the campaigning is done inside camps, the military will intervene to preserve our non-partisan stance. However, if (the posting of campaign materials is) done outside (camps), that’s beyond us," said Torres Text messages spread last Friday that Army chief Lt. Gen. Romeo Tolentino issued an April 9 directive to all Army commanders to “destroy/remove" all posters of Trillanes “to show the public that the AFP is not supporting/endorsing the candidacy of subject officer." “I have not seen any document that he (Tolentino) has issued any order regarding that…I don’t know where that came from," Torres said of the text messages. Trillanes stays at a Marine detention facility for his involvement in the short-lived Oakwood mutiny in July 2003. He is facing coup d’etat charges before the Makati City regional trial court. Trillanes is also being tried by a military court for charges of conduct unbecoming of an officer and a gentleman. Trillanes will face a jail term and dishonorable discharge from the service if found guilty of the charges. - GMANews.TV