Chiz stumped why VP Sara questioned AFP for allowing Duterte arrest

Senate President Francis "Chiz" Escudero on Monday said he didn't understand Vice President Sara Duterte's remark that the Armed Forces of the Philippines' allowed former President Rodrigo Duterte to be taken to The Hague to face charges in connection with killings in his war on drugs.

During a hearing of the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations on the arrest of Duterte who's facing charges of crimes against humanity before the International Criminal Court, the Vice President said she found “disturbing” the “silence of the Armed Forces of the Philippines” during her father’s arrest. 

“Alam mo hindi ko rin maintindihan ‘yong concern na ‘yon ng ating vice  president maliban sa ito’y pagpapatuloy ng tila mensahe na common sa kanila na umaapela palagi sa Sandatahang Lakas sa anumang lebel, anumang isyu, anumang kaganapan,” Escudero told reporters in a press briefing.

(I don't understand this concern of our vice president aside from this being part of their common continuing apparent message to always appeal to the Armed Forces at any level, regarding any issue or event.)

“Ano ang gusto niyang palabasin? Magbabangayan ang sundalo at ang pulis? Klaro, law enforcement operation ‘yon na nag-assist lamang ang AFP at hindi pwedeng palagan man lang o lumaban ang AFP sa kapulisan kaugnay sa law enforcement operation. Bakit ba natin pilit na pinag-aaway ang dalawa,” the Senate chief added.

(What does she want to say? Does she want the soldiers and the policemen to clash? It's clear that it was a law enforcement operation where the AFP was assisting, and the AFP cannot engage or fight law enforcement in such operations. Why are we trying to pit the two against each other?)

During the hearing, the Vice President tagged as “disturbing” the “silence of the Armed Forces of the Philippines” during her father’s arrest. 

“Why did the AFP stand idly by while a former commander-in-chief was taken from a military base under questionable circumstances? How could they allow a foreign tribunal to override our constitutional guarantees?” Duterte had said. 

Escudero said the AFP should not be partisan and they should not be convinced to choose a political side.

“Hindi dapat mangampi ang AFP kanino man. Dapat tumayo sila sa likod ng chain of command at ng Saligang Batas sa ilalim ng Commander in Chief natin. At hindi para sa kanila ang maglaro ng pulitika at pumabor sa isang kulay o kabilang kulay man,” he said.

(The AFP should not take sides with anyone. They should stand behind the chain of command and the Constitution under our Commander in Chief. It is not their role to engage in politics or show favoritism towards any particular group.)

“Sana tigilan na rin yan ng magkabilang panig kaugnay sa panunuyo sa ating Sandatahang Lakas dahil hindi natin gusto na sila ay manghimasok kada nalamang may hindi pagkakaunawaan ang mga pulitiko sa ating bansa. Hindi nila trabaho ang maging referee sa anumang isyu pulitikal sa ating bansa,” he explained.

(I hope that both sides will stop asking the AFP because we do not want them to intervene every time there are disagreements between politicians in our country. It is not their job to act as referees in any political issues in our nation.)

Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. had defended the AFP and said it had no enforcement mandate and could only offer assistance to the arrest. 

“Our sole mandate is to give support to the Philippine National Police when it is asked for. And therefore, such ends our jurisdiction,” Teodoro said.

“The operation is clearly a law enforcement one, and the Philippine National Police has the power to ask the armed forces to assist. And that is the extent of the participation of my department and the [AFP],” he added.

The Defense chief also pointed out that all other matters in supporting the PNP are governed by operational security.

Authorities last March 11, served a warrant of arrest from the ICC against the former president for murder charges as a crime against humanity in connection with the killings under his war on drugs.

The former Philippine leader is detained at The Hague Penitentiary in the Netherlands. –NB, GMA Integrated News