PRESS RELEASE

No.

Releasing Officer:

 

Date

Nov. 20, 2007

 

MARINA M. AGUSTIN

 

 

Acting Chief, Office for Public and Legislative Affairs

Office for Public Affairs, Department of National Defense, Camp Aguinaldo, Quezon City

 

Telephone Nos:  911-3339 / 911-4529

 

Catex: 911-6001 to 12, loc. 8445/8444

     Fax No.: 911-7113

 

 

DEFENSE CHIEF OPPOSES BEI DUTIES FOR SOLDIERS IN SULU   

Amid reports of alleged proposals for soldiers to serve as members of the Board of Election Inspectors (BEI) in Sulu, Defense Secretary Gilberto C. Teodoro, Jr. stressed today the military’s compliance with the prohibition against involvement in partisan politics as he reiterated the policy guideline on the election conduct of defense and military personnel.

“We consider the Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) between the DND-AFP and the COMELEC as standing and we are complying with the conditions set under the MOA,” Secretary Teodoro said.  

“The alleged proposals for soldiers to serve as members of the BEI is, I believe, in conflict with the spirit and intent of the MOA to insulate members of the AFP from partisan political activities,” the Secretary Teodoro added.

The defense chief issued this statement following reports on military’s role in the special barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections in 70 villages in Sulu. 

 

The DND-AFP forged a MOA with COMELEC in October 2006 to ensure that military officers and personnel are insulated from partisan politics and protected from unwarranted accusations of engaging in partisan political activities.

Under the MOA, the deputized AFP units shall only include the following functions:  

a.      providing security to the area covered by the serious armed threat by deploying sufficient AFP military personnel to man, patrol and provide AFP visibility in the area; 

b.      manning checkpoints in locations jointly identified by the COMELEC and the AFP; and  

c.      enforcing the ban on carrying of firearms by persons who do not possess the necessary authorization from COMELEC to carry, possess or transport firearms.  

      Secretary Teodoro emphasized that the COMELEC deputation of the DND-AFP shall not include, among others, the performance of elections duties like canvassing of votes, clustering of precincts, acting as security escorts to candidates, providing security to polling places and to the members of the Board of Election Inspectors, or providing security to the personnel of the Commission and other employees of the Government performing election duties, including the accredited citizens’ arm. 

 

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