Teodoro: No credible destab efforts within AFP after Senate shooting incident

Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. on Friday said there were no credible destabilization efforts within the ranks of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) following the shooting incident at the Senate.

In an ambush interview, Teodoro said active-duty military personnel remain professional despite the political noise.

“In the active duty ranks of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, where my jurisdiction lies, there is none…Those in the ranks are professionals and this will not affect them,” Teodoro said.

“There's a big distinction between a political and law enforcement issue and a military issue and a national defense issue. Very clear sa Armed Forces that they have learned the lessons of improper meddling by the armed forces in politics,” he added.

According to him, the calls for the AFP to withdraw support from any party have no legal or Constitutional basis.

“Yung mga panawagan sa Armed Forces na mag-aklas or whatnot from any party, that has no basis in law and the use of the Constitution na the Armed Forces is the protector. It is a gross and mistaken misinterpretation of the Constitution,” the Defense chief said.

(Those calls to the Armed Forces to revolt or whatnot from any party, that have no basis in law and the use of the Constitution that the Armed Forces is the protector. It is a gross and mistaken misinterpretation of the Constitution.)

“There is no operative procedure for that. It is just a statement that the Armed Forces must remain apolitical,” he added.

Gunshots were heard at the Senate on Wednesday evening amid the possible arrest of Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa, who is facing a warrant from the International Criminal Court (ICC) for the Duterte administration's drug war.

Dela Rosa earlier asked support from the police and military in case President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. denies his appeal to prevent the his transfer to the ICC in The Hague, Netherlands.

The senator reportedly sneaked out of the Senate building early Thursday morning.—AOL, GMA News