AFP ready to back up PNP during anti-‘pork’ rally

MANILA, Philippines - Troops will reinforce police in securing the second anti-pork barrel rally along Edsa on Sept. 11.

Armed Forces public affairs chief Lt. Col. Ramon Zagala said the Joint Task Force National Capital Region can deploy troops upon request of the police.

“We are hopeful that our citizens will be able to exercise their freedom of expression peacefully,” he said. “The Philippine National Police and, if needed, the Armed Forces are there to ensure that the event is peaceful.”

Joint Task Force NCR deployed a company or about 100 soldiers to Mendiola during the Million People March last month, he added.

Zagala said soldiers are not allowed to attend the Sept. 11 rally Edsa Tayo.

“As soldiers, we are servants of the people and for us to effectively serve the people, we must maintain our military discipline,” he said. “One way of showing our discipline is obedience to the chain of command.”

Zagala said retired soldiers can join the rally.

“We now consider them as civilians,” he said. “They can now express how they feel which they cannot do before.”

Zagala said the participation of retired generals in rallies does not mean that they are seeking the support of active soldiers.

“We believe our organization is professional and we believe the retired AFP officers are professional,” he said. “They know what is lawful and what is not.” 

Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin said the military has not monitored any threat to disrupt the Edsa Tayo rally.

“Be assured that we continue to monitor (the developments) so that we will be able to address the threats appropriately,” he said.

Navotas Rep. Toby Tiangco denied yesterday sending text messages to media calling for  a  Million People March on Sept.11.

The United Nationalist Alliance (UNA) secretary-general said the text blast to media did not come from him or from his office. 

“It’s a text spam,” he said.

Tiangco said the malicious text message was part of a campaign to put UNA on the spot while the anti-pork barrel sentiment is high.

“We are not part of the Sept. 11 event organizationally or politically,” he said.  – Alexis Romero, Jose Rodel Clapano