📷 AFP Chief of Staff General Romeo BrawnerÂ
The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) has clarified that the purpose of their background checks or intelligence gathering on election candidates is to assist the Commission on Elections (Comelec) in ensuring the integrity of the electoral process and safeguarding national security.
This statement follows the confirmation by AFP Chief of Staff General Romeo Brawner that they are conducting background checks on candidates for the 2025 midterm elections.
According to Brawner, the government aims to prevent incidents similar to those that occurred in the previous elections.
Brawner emphasized that this initiative is part of the military’s preparations for the upcoming midterm elections, particularly in light of potential interference from “foreign actors.”
The chief of staff stated that if they identify any candidates who fall into the “red flags” category, they will report these findings to the Comelec.
AFP Public Affairs Office (PAO) Chief Col. Xerxes Trinidad explained that they are collaborating with the Philippine National Police (PNP) and Comelec in this effort, focusing on potential security threats and foreign interference that could exert a negative influence.
Trinidad underscored that the military is merely fulfilling its responsibilities and that the AFP will remain non-partisan throughout the electoral process. (ZIA LUNA)
