Leave the AFP alone! — Biazon tells chacha advocacy group

Senator Rodolfo “Pong” Biazon went to the Senate today for a press conference on the Advocacy Commission’s pro-cha-cha forum held before the Assocition of Flag Officers of the Philippines.

Here is what the senator said:

 ”There is a report that Malcanang is mobilizing the AFP to support the administration’s drive to effect a charter change. There is nothing wrong with that except for the fact that the issue of charter change has acquired a purely partisan political interest. Malacanang even funded the organization of the Consultative Commission, but it is turning out that this ConCon is not making any consultation with the people but was in a campaign to drive what Malacanang is pushing for in the form that Malacanang (wants). I am not against charter change. I do believe that there are provisions in the Constitution that need to be reexamined. If Malacanang continues to push for charter change then we are politicizing the AFP because Atty. Lambino who is the proponent of the People’s Initiative had talked to the Association of Flag Officers of the Philippines which includes generals in the active service, asking that the AGFO support Malacanang’s move to effect charter change pushed by the administration.”

“Because of this, I am asking that those opposing Malacanang’s move should also be given equal time with the soldiers so that we may be able to to explain the other side of charter change especially the People’s Initiative which is nothing but a misnomer to Politician’s Initiative. Malacanang has spent public funds by organizing this so called Consultative Commission which is now turning out to be a mouthpiece of Malacanang. Do not politicize the AFP!”

 My comments:

The Consultative Commission, created through an executive order and granted an appropriation of P10 million, has completed its mandate. Its report is now in Congress and it would be interesting to conduct a survey as to how many of our legislators actually took the time to read the whole thing. Those making the rounds of the media, local governments, and now the AFP and PNP are members of the Charter Change Advocacy Commission. This Commission was formed based on a separate executive order with funding requirements of P 5 million.

Our constitutional right to free speech applies to all and sundry, and certainly we cannot fault the advocacy group of the Palace for wanting to say their piece. Fairness however dictates that an anti-chacha group  (such as the less political, No To Parliament Movement of Professor Rene Azurin) be likewise extended the same invitation. After all, the Constitution belongs to all Filipinos, not just to those who favor its amendment and revision. Remember how the Palace told the PNP and AFP that they have surrendered their right to free speech upon entering the service? Were they not also cautioned against dabbling in politics?Now, they are being prevailed upon by the advocacy group to support charter change. I believe that this new request demeans the uniform of our soldiers and police personnel. They who fight for our flag and the Constitution are being asked to parrot the official line, and serve as a major addition to the propaganda-driven Cha-cha express. As an added insult, the pro-chacha group informed our generals and soldiers that a shift from a presidential to parliamentary form of government will take care of our decades-old insurgency problem.

If we cannot give our soldiers sturdy boots, aircraft that fly and more bullets for their guns, then let us at least give them the dignity of intellectual discernment through fair and honest dialogue on the Constitution for which they have committed to fight, and even die for. Dignity and fair play. Respect and intellectual honesty. Pray tell, are these too much to ask?