By Priam Nepomuceno
MANILA – The Philippine Army (PA) on Tuesday moved for the delisting of Cavite 4th District Rep. Francisco “Kiko” Barzaga from its Reserve Force after he urged soldiers and reservists to join the Sept. 21 anti-corruption protests.
In a statement, PA spokesperson Col. Louie Dema-ala said Republic Act 7077 or the Citizens Armed Forces of the Philippines Reservist Act, as well as the AFP Regulations and Code of Ethics, clearly prohibit active reservists from taking part protests and in posting seditious statements in any form of media while wearing their military uniform and bearing the AFP’s name.
“Congressman Francisco Barzaga made seditious statements online while wearing the AFP uniform in his public posts,” Dema-ala said. “His statements clearly violated the AFP rules, as determined by the internal investigation of the Reserve Command, Philippine Army.”
He added that as a highly professional organization, the PA “do[es] not condone nor tolerate any action that undermines the integrity and non-partisanship of military institution.”
Dema-ala, however, clarified that the PA’s decision is limited to Barzaga’s status within the Army’s Reserve Force, and has no impact on his rights as a civilian or elected official.
He also reminded all active-duty personnel, as well as reservists, to uphold military professionalism and non-partisanship enshrined in the AFP Code of Ethics.
Barzaga holds the rank of private in the Reserve Force.
The military earlier in the day said it will take actions against groups or persons urging the public to take up arms against the government.
“For sure, we will not take this sitting down,” Philippine Navy (PN) Inspector General Rear Admiral Roy Vincent Trinidad said in a media briefing in Camp Aguinaldo, Quezon City.
He particularly issued the warning to those spreading “fake news, misinformation, disinformation, malinformation on a false premise that the AFP (Armed Forces of the Philippines) could not perform its mandate and they would like to incite the people to armed rebellion.”
“Our legal people will check that and see what will be the appropriate action that we will take against them,” Trinidad said. (PNA)
