Reds' alleged support for Duterte a 'non-issue' to AFP

MANILA, Philippines — The military on Wednesday described as a "non-issue" the reported endorsement of Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte by Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) founder Jose Maria Sison.

Armed Forces spokesman Col. Restituto Padilla stressed that soldiers would remain non-partisan and would not participate in any political activity except to vote.

"The news or the statement that Joma Sison may have given his support to Mayor Duterte is a non-issue to the armed forces because we have come to know the mayor as having the ability to work with all sectors of society, whether they be in the center, the left or the right," Padilla told reporters in Camp Aguinaldo.

"The Armed Forces of the Philippines remains apolitical when it comes to the election," he added.

Padilla said Duterte's ability to work with different sectors is "a political skill" that the mayor has developed over the years to serve his constituents.

Duterte is being floated as one of the possible presidential candidates in 2016 but has not confirmed whether he is seeking a higher post.

The mayor ranked third behind Sen. Grace Poe and Vice President Jejomar Binay in the latest Pulse Asia survey on possible presidential candidates. He was in fourth place behind Poe, Binay and Interior Secretary Manuel "Mar" Roxas II in a similar Social Weather Station survey released last June.

Earlier, state-run Philippine News Agency (PNA) quoted Duterte as saying that Sison has endorsed him for the 2016 polls.

The mayor reportedly disclosed the information during a "Run Duterte Run" caravan at the San Pedro Square in Davao City.

According to the PNA report, Duterte shared a video message by Sison wherein the communist leader had described the mayor as a man with "integrity, strength of character and political will for good."

Duterte, however, did not declare his candidacy during the event, saying he would consult his family first before making a decision.

The report about Sison's endorsement came as the military is struggling to end the decades-old communist insurgency, which has about 4,000 armed supporters nationwide.

When asked if the military is comfortable with the possibility that rebels would endorse candidates, Padilla noted that the insurgents had backed politicians during previous polls.

"The reason behind such endorsement is their (rebels) capability to talk to that candidate because they have contacts, conduits or connections," the military spokesman said.

Padilla said politicians who talk to rebels do not necessarily support armed struggle. He noted that Duterte has helped the military recover some soldiers who were captured by the New People's Army, the armed wing of communist rebels.

"The armed forces, if you have noticed, has always been behind any efforts to achieve peace so any peace effort that will provide peace dividends, whether these are with the leftists or with any other groups that are against the government, will be good for our country," he added.