Senators warn Duterte against using military in elections

MANILA, Philippines — Senators said yesterday there was no basis at all for President Duterte to threaten to use the military to ensure the stability of the 2022 elections when there are no threats of violence at the polls.

Sen. Panfilo Lacson, who chairs the Senate committee on national defense and security, said it is only the Commission on Elections (Comelec) that can deputize the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and Philippine National Police (PNP) to poll hotspots.

“It got me thinking: What’s the basis of the President (to issue such a warning)? There are no threats. Have you heard of any? Unless the intelligence community submitted information that we know of,” Lacson, a former PNP chief, told ANC.

“But this should be explained to the people. Why would the President threaten to mobilize the military during elections?” he added.

Sen. Richard Gordon, chairman the Senate committee on justice, said Duterte’s threats were alarming, given there are no indications of widespread violence in the coming elections.

Gordon said Filipinos should be wary of such pronouncements from Duterte who, he said, may have some agenda in issuing such a warning.

On Friday, Duterte warned the public that he may be forced to tap the military to ensure “peaceful and violence-free” elections next year.

An official of the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) said President Duterte was merely issuing a warning that he may use military forces to augment the police in case of a chaotic election season next year.

DILG Undersecretary Epimaco Densing said the military may be used to augment civilian forces of the PNP to maintain peace and order during the upcoming elections.

“That was just a warning from the President in case a situation arises. He was very clear that when elections become chaotic, then besides the PNP, the President may augment the security forces with military,” Densing said in an interview on One News’ Agenda.

He noted that it was just a theoretical question and a warning as President Duterte wants to have peaceful elections in 2022.

“It was a theoretical question that needed a theoretical answer. Unless we really feel that there is chaos at the time that we hold elections and campaign, I think the President made a theoretical answer,” the DILG official said.

Densing said the PNP has identified areas of concern of potential political violence and under the influence of the communist rebels.

Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana said the job of securing the elections falls upon the shoulder of the PNP.

“However, if situations become chaotic or the integrity of the polls is endangered and the capacity of the PNP is overwhelmed, the military will assist the police in restoring order,” Lorenzana said.