AFP, PNP urged to remain neutral in 2007 polls

A retired police general called yesterday on policemen and soldiers not to allow themselves to be used in attempts to undermine the people’s will in next year’s elections.

"The people’s will expressed through the ballot should never be subverted," said retired police general Reynaldo Velasco.

Velasco lauded outgoing Defense Secretary Avelino "Nonong" Cruz Jr. for his professionalism and his call to insulate the Armed Forces from politics.

The restiveness in the Armed Forces is "deeply rooted in the May 2004 presidential elections," he claimed.

Velasco said he made the same call for the government to insulate the Philippine National Police (PNP) from politics before he was relieved as National Capital Regional Police Office director in November 2003, one month after successfully securing US President George W. Bush during his state visit to Manila in Oct. 8, 2003.

"I fully agree with resigned Defense Secretary Cruz in his efforts to insulate the military from partisan politics when he signed a memorandum of agreement with the Commission on Elections removing election duties from soldiers," he said.

Velasco said the agreement between Cruz and the Comelec was a defining step towards getting the soldiers out of politics.

A similar agreement with the PNP may not be practical, but policemen must always ensure the conduct of honest, orderly and peaceful elections, he added. — Non Alquitran