Kiko: Lies about UP ‘communists’ undermine AFP professionalism

Labeling prominent University of the Philippines alumni as communists undermines the military’s professionalism and gives the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) a bad name, Senator Kiko Pangilinan said Sunday.

“Nakakadismayang may ilan sa AFP na sinisiraan ang pangalan ng institusyon at dinudungisan ang professionalism,” he said.

Pangilinan stressed that aside from endangering private citizens, false accusations such as these also put the military organization at risk.

“We cannot afford to have a politicized and unprofessional AFP. Let us not forget that it was the glaring lack of professionalism in the AFP that caused it to turn against itself during the last years of the Marcos regime,” he said.

“Tiwala tayong magiging independent ang military, at gagabayan ng kanilang mandato na paglingkuran at proteksyunan ang mamamayan,” he added.

Pangilinan was reacting to the AFP list of supposed New People’s Army members who were either captured or killed by government forces. The list includes former peace adviser Alexander Padilla, who was also Customs chief and PhilHealth head.

“Bahagi ito ng tangkang bansagan ang UP bilang sentro ng mga rebeldeng komunista. Mapanganib itong pabara-barang mga paratang dahil nilalagay sa peligro ang kaligtasan at buhay ng mga nasa listahan,” said the former UP University Student Council chairman.

“Dapat tigilan na ng mga military na gumagawa nito ang pag-re-red-tag. Dahil sa maling pag-label sa mga tao, nagiging target sila ng panggigipit at pinakamalala pa, pagpatay,” he added.

Pangilinan reminded the bad eggs in the AFP that the Philippine Constitution guarantees freedom of political beliefs and free speech.

“Lahat tayong lingkod-bayan ay sumumpang itataguyod ang Saligang-Batas. Bukod sa ginagarantya ng Saligang-Batas ang kalayaan sa paniniwala at pananalita, sinasabi rin nito na hindi krimen ang maniwala sa anumang ideology,” he said.

Source: Latest Politics News Today (Politics.com.ph)