Yano mum on Teodoro's 2010 bid

MANILA, Philippines - While various sectors are abuzz over Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro’s 2010 presidential bid, things are quiet in his own backyard as the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) seems to be keeping mum on the issue.

AFP chief Gen. Alexander Yano, one of Teodoro’s honorary “mistahs” or classmates in the Philippine Military Academy Class of 1976, refused to speak about his boss’ political plans.

Yano said he will wait for his retirement before commenting.

His decision to remain silent is no surprise since Yano has repeatedly said that the AFP should be free from partisan politics, and any reaction, whether negative or positive, would defeat this principle.

“True to his desire of insulating the AFP from partisan politics, Gen. Yano chose to reserve comment on the issue until he becomes a civilian,” AFP public affairs chief Lt. Col. Ernesto Torres said in a separate interview.

He said the AFP chief has been stressing in his rounds of military units nationwide that soldiers should remain apolitical, and those who feel otherwise should hang up their military uniform, get out of the service and then “shout to their heart’s content.”

In an attempt to shield the organization from politics, the AFP entered into a memorandum of agreement with the Commission on Elections in 2006, limiting the military’s role in elections.

This came after it was flooded by criticisms that soldiers were used to rig the 2004 elections, particularly those mentioned in the controversial “Hello, Garci” recordings.

Teodoro has admitted having plans to run for president in the next elections, provided that he gets the support of the administration party.

Prior to this, several sectors and organizations openly declared support for the 44-year-old defense secretary.

The latest group to endorse Teodoro was the Philippine Councilor’s League, which in a resolution signed in Palawan said he should seek greater challenges in the national government for the good of the country.