Palace defends Cabinet men’s campaign activities

Malacañang took up the cudgels yesterday for Defense Secretary Eduardo Ermita, who has been accused by Sen. Aquilino Pimentel Jr. of dragging the military into partisan politics.

Presidential Spokesman Ignacio Bunye said it is Secretary Gabriel Claudio of the Presidential Legislative Liaison Office who has the principal task in President Arroyo’s campaign, and not Ermita.

"And he (Ermita) has been saying that the only participation of the uniformed personnel (of the AFP) is limited to their voting, and they should not engage in any partisan political activity," he said.

"So these allegations on Secretary Ermita (are) most unfair."

Bunye said contrary to Pimentel’s claim, Ermita was never designated as "chief election campaign officer" of Mrs. Arroyo.

"I think Sen. Nene Pimentel has a wrong premise on this," he said.

"The only job of the members of the AFP and their only participation would be as voters to vote as Filipino citizens of our Republic.

"So there is no basis to what Sen. Nene Pimentel was saying," he added.

Bunye said Ermita is committed to preserve the professionalism and impartiality of the Armed Forces.

"The President wants the DND-AFP to stand in the center of any partisan contest, and considers this vital to the preservation of security and law and order," he said.

Bunye denied opposition claims that Ermita’s taking an active role in Mrs. Arroyo’s election campaign has "ignited rumblings" within the ranks of the Armed Forces, especially among junior military officers.

"I’m not sure how credible the report is, but as always the AFP is keeping tab of the situation," he said. "There seems to be no credible (destabilization) threat this time."

Meanwhile, a group of former leaders of the pro-administration Lakas-Christian Muslim Democrats denied yesterday reports that they have jumped to the camp of presidential contender Raul Roco because they failed to get the party’s nominations and other political concessions.

"This is baloney and pure fiction," said former representative Gualberto Lumauig, the group’s spokesman. "How can Lakas drop me when I’m not running for anything?"— Marichu Villanueva