Military to stay apolitical — AFP chief

CAMP AQUINO, Tarlac City — The military will remain apolitical amid the ongoing turmoil surrounding the Arroyo government, Armed Forces chief Gen. Efren Abu said here yesterday.

Abu reiterated the military’s stand on the issue when he arrived here to attend the change of command ceremony of the Northern Luzon Command (Nolcom).

"That is the way the organization should be," he said.

Abu gave his assurance of the military’s neutrality on political issues hounding the Arroyo administration in answer to rumors about destabilization plots allegedly initiated by ranking military officials and the opposition’s persistent calls for the President to resign.

Meanwhile, Defense Secretary Avelino Cruz, who was the guest of honor and speaker at the event, said he was "extremely proud of the men and women of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) for taking a firm and uncompromising stand to insulate themselves from partisan politics."

He said that even before the onset of the political crisis, a command conference in preparation for the elections in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) was held.

"I issued an equivocal directive to the soldiers to steer clear from any partisan political activity and to remain true to our mandate in ensuring the sanctity of the political process," he said.

Cruz also revealed that the government is focusing its efforts on four priority areas — the Philippines Defense Reform (PDR) program, the implementation of a multi-year capability upgrade plan for the AFP, support for the peace process, and enhancement of the military’s capability to fight terrorism.

The PDR program focuses on 10 key areas, including improvements in operations, intelligence and the training capacity of the military and increasing the AFP’s capability to conduct Civil Military Operations.

A three-year assessment of the defense and military establishment, completed in 2003, preceded the PDR.

To complement the PDR, Cruz said the AFP Capability Upgrade Plan was recently implemented.

"From 2005 to 2010, the plan will focus on acquiring basic individual and unit equipment needed in internal security operations," he explained.