EDITORIAL - A commitment from the AFP

About 500 members of the Armed Forces of the Philippines staged a bicycle tour of four cities in Metro Manila the other day to signify their commitment to honest and peaceful elections on May 10. The 35.5-kilometer tour through Taguig, Makati, Pasay and Manila was called the “Bike for Honest, Orderly and Peaceful Elections: Protect the Votes Bike-a-thon.”

Fulfilling the AFP’s commitment will go a long way in ensuring the credibility of the general elections. Ferdinand Marcos used the military to harass and intimidate opposition candidates in sham elections held during his authoritarian regime. After the 1986 people power revolt, the AFP managed to stay out of trouble during elections, becoming embroiled in a vote rigging scandal again only in 2004.

In this year’s elections, the AFP is expected to play a key role in ensuring that the vote will be fair. Concerns about the impartiality of the AFP have increased after its members were allowed by the Commission on Elections to return to bodyguard duty for candidates.

The massacre in Maguindanao has also heightened concerns that this year’s elections could be unusually violent, particularly in the conflict areas of Mindanao. The violence, in turn, could make it easier to manipulate election results or intimidate voters into picking candidates against their will. In areas where members of the Philippine National Police have allowed themselves to serve as the private armies of politicians, the AFP is expected to prevent the police from undermining the vote.

In case the worst-case scenario being raised by certain individuals – a failure of elections – comes to pass, the AFP will play a crucial role in ensuring the stability of the country. It can only play this role effectively if it remains non-partisan. In the coming weeks, events similar to the bike-a-thon will be staged, to remind AFP members to stay away from partisan political activities and reassure the public that the military is committed to clean and peaceful elections. The nation holds the AFP to its commitment.