EDITORIAL - Stay away from the AFP

If the administration is serious in its intent to create a professional military, it should lead by example and keep politics away from the Armed Forces of the Philippines. This includes limiting the encounters of the commander-in-chief with her troops to purely military business — the stuff that commanders-in-chief do in an administration that is not beleaguered by coup attempts.

Defense Secretary Avelino Cruz and AFP chief Gen. Generoso Senga are doing a good job of explaining to the troops why staging a coup is not the answer to the problems besetting the nation and the AFP. Their effort includes informing the troops about the reforms that are being undertaken to upgrade the resources, training and capability of the AFP as well as rid the organization of the corrupt, incompetent and incorrigibly undisciplined.

It will do well for the administration to leave the explaining to defense and AFP officials, at least during this period of military restiveness. The presence of the principal subject of destabilization efforts in military camps at this time taints even the most innocuous activity with politics. It is not surprising that the political opposition is demanding equal time with the troops, though the wish is unlikely to be granted.

Since the latest political turmoil erupted in July last year, military officials have publicly implored politicians to leave the AFP alone. Senga repeated the appeal at the height of the standoff at the Marine headquarters at Fort Bonifacio late last month, as a motley group of anti-Arroyo civilian personalities tried mightily to get into the act.

As early as 2001, following the military-backed EDSA 2 revolt that installed Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo in power, defense and military officials had recognized the need to insulate the AFP from politics. Reforms along this line were drawn up even before the Oakwood mutiny in July 2003. A number of those reforms are in place or in the process of being implemented. The success of many of the reforms will depend on the cooperation of politicians and policy-makers. When Philippine soldiers ask to be left alone, they mean it. Heeding the call will be good for the health of both the AFP and the nation.