AFP assures neutrality amid impeachment cases against Marcos, Duterte

The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) said they will remain non-partisan amid the recent filing of impeachment cases against President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and Vice President Sara Duterte.

During a briefing on Tuesday, AFP Chief of Public Affairs Colonel Xerxes Trinidad said the AFP will stay true to their mandate and support the democratic processes of the government.

“We will remain non- partisans for we are a professional and disciplined organization… I think the different groups have  filed no and exercised their democratic rights  under the Constitution which is allowed under our law,” he said.

He assured the AFP will support their counterparts in maintaining peace and order amid talks of civil unrest resulting from the impeachment processes.

“Mayroon tayong mga (We have) law enforcement who are on the lead role and the AFP if  needed, will be providing the support to our security counterparts,” he said.

A third impeachment complaint was formally submitted against Duterte on Monday.

The latest complaint was officially transmitted to the Office of the House Speaker by religious groups, priests, and lawyers who accused Duterte of betrayal of public trust, graft and corruption, and other offenses over the alleged misuse of at least ₱612 million in confidential funds.

Marcos, meanwhile, had two of his impeachment complaints dismissed by the House justice panel on Monday due to insufficiency in substance.

His complaints were grounded on allegations that the President had enabled the “kidnapping and surrender” of ex-President Rodrigo Duterte to the International Criminal Court (ICC), being a drug addict, failure to veto provisions and appropriations under the 2023 to 2026 GAAs, and betrayal of public trust over the adoption of the Baselined-Balanced-Managed (BBM) Parametric Formula in allocating infrastructure projects. —Jiselle Anne C. Casucian/RF, GMA Integrated News