No need for red alert, AFP chief says

ARMED Forces of the Philippines (AFP) chief Gen. Romeo Brawner Jr. on Thursday said there was no need to put troops on red alert, despite the intense political bickering between the administration and the Duterte family, whose patriarch had called for the military to intervene to «correct» the country's «fractured governance.»

«In our opinion, we do not need to raise the red alert just because of… politics. In fact, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. had left for the United Arab Emirates, so this is an indicator that things are normal. We are still in control,» Brawner said.

He said the AFP's mandate is to make sure that the country is stable and prospers economically without any obstacles.

«As members of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, our job is to make sure that our country is stable for our democratic way of life to continue,» Brawner said.

He spoke at the AFP Leadership Summit in Camp Aguinaldo where he extolled the professionalism and competence first and master sergeants.

The event served as a platform for sharing insights, best practices, and innovative approaches to address the dynamic challenges faced by the military.

«Leadership is the foundation of our organization. It is through our leadership that we inspire our men and women to serve with integrity, professionalism, and excellence. This summit underscores our commitment to fostering a culture of accountability and unity in the AFP,» he said.

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He also reiterated the need for the military to remain nonpartisan and for its personnel to continue to focus on the accomplishment of their mission.

Addressing former president Rodrigo Duterte's call, Brawner said the AFP has no authority to intervene in purely political issues.

«We are soldiers, and not politicians,» he said.

Meanwhile, the Philippine National Police (PNP) said it is ready to face possible charges to be filed by Vice President Sara Duterte over last weekend's confrontation with police officers who secured the transfer of her chief of staff from a hospital.

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«That is always the right of anybody to file a case against the police, especially if they feel that they were aggrieved. We welcome that and we will wait for the