Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) chief Gen. Romeo Brawner Jr. has ordered soldiers to stay away from politics amid the continuing tension in the Senate, including a shooting incident on Wednesday night.
“My instructions to the soldiers nationwide is for everyone to remain calm, disciplined and professional,” Brawner said on Thursday morning.
“We should only focus on our jobs and leave politics to the politicians,” added Brawner.
Brawner said he is confident soldiers will not be involved in any plot to destabilize the administration of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr, saying the AFP is “very professional.”
“We are not worried that the incident last night will spark something, leading soldiers to join in destabilization,” Brawner said.
“We did not raise a Red Alert,” added Brawner.
Brawner said the Marine soldiers who were seen inside the Senate building before the shooting incident were part of the military contingent assigned to secure the Senate.
“It’s their job to secure the facility…They are not providing security to any individual senator. They are there to secure the facility,” said Brawner.
Brawner said soldiers were not involved in the shooting incident, adding: “We talked to the commander. They didn’t fire (their firearms)because they were there to support. It was the OSAA that fired.”
Brawner said he was on the way to Malacanang on Thursday morning for a meeting with President Marcos.
Brawner said Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr spoke with President Marcos on Wednesday night.
“I was with the SND (Secretary of National Defense) last night, with the battle staff. The SND talked to the President. We were there while he (Teodoro) was talking (to the President),” he said.
Asked what Teodoro told him after his conversation with the President, Brawner just said: “We’re determining what happened (at the Senate) because no one knows what exactly happened.”
On whether there is an indication the incident is part of a plot to destabilize the government, Brawner said: “None. As far as the AFP is concerned, there is none. But we are looking into all angles.