The Department of National
Defense (DND) and Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) pledged its full support to the Commission on Elections (COMELEC) in the barangay elections on October 30, 2023 by joining its Committee on Kontra Bigay.
Secretary of National Defense (SND) Gilberto C. Teodoro, Jr. signed the Memorandum of Agreement with the COMELEC Chairman George Erwin M.
Garcia who heads the Committee on Kontra Bigay.
“We pledge to work closely with the COMELEC in ensuring that this election is a success. Kapag hindi po successful itong Barangay Elections na ito na sinasabi na nga po natin ay foundational, sisiklab nanaman ang internal instability natin, madidistract na naman ang AFP, for that matter, and even the Coast Guard, for what we need to do,” Teodoro said.
The signing was witnessed by Commissioner Ernesto Ferdinand P. Maceda, Jr., Commissioner-in-Charge of the Committee on Kontra Bigay, and AFP Chief of Staff Gen Romeo Brawner Jr.
The committee aims to combat the deplorable practice of vote buying and calls for a collective effort to eradicate its influence on the democratic process.
“Ito po ay talagang talamak na nagpo-pollute sa ating demokrasya. Ang tao, naiimpluwensyahan ng mga bagay na hindi kanais-nais,” the defense chief said. “Kaya po ang fault niyan ay nasa namimigay.”
AFP to ensure peaceful barangay elections
Meanwhile, General Brawner signed a separate MOA with Commissioner Garcia, wherein the COMELEC deputizes the AFP for the purpose of ensuring a free, orderly, and peaceful barangay elections.
Brawner then received from COMELEC a cheque amounting to PHP 40 million as support fund for the military’s administrative, operational and logistical needs as they perform their functions relative to the upcoming elections.
“Nagpapasalamat po kami sa pagkakataon na itong memorandum na ito ay, para sa akin hindi lamang memorandum, kung hindi, senyales po ito ng pagtitiwala po ninyo sa amin. Ito po ay aming pahahalagahan at pangagalagaan,” Secretary Teodoro added. “Hindi sana masira ang tiwala ninyo at ng taong bayan sa inyong Department of National Defense at Sandatahang Lakas ng Pilipinas.”