/PNA
LEGAZPI CITY — Days before the start of the official campaign period on February 12, President Rodrigo R. Duterte renewed his call to uniformed personnel to remain neutral, and reminded members of his Cabinet not to campaign for any candidate in May’s mid-term elections.
“I want the AFP (Armed Forces of the Philippines) and the police (Philippine National Police) to stay strictly neutral. Ang mga taga gobyerno (those in the government), including the Cabinet secretaries, I have not allowed them to do campaigning for or against anybody,” Duterte said in his speech during the Peace and Order Summit for Barangay Officials here Friday.
“Because if you do it, away ang abutin mo sa akin (we will fight about it),” the President added.
Duterte also called on members of the New People’s Army to stop their extortion activities.
“You can come, courtesy of the money of the people of the Philippines. Wala akong pera. (I don’t have funds.) You can come and be billeted in simple hotels because luxury is not for us and you can come in peace. Hindi kayo huhulihin (You will not be arrested),” he added.
The peace talks between the government and the National Democratic Front of the Philippines were halted in 2018.
The Peace and Order Summit for Barangays Officials was attended by thousands of local leaders, who gathered to discussed issues and concerns affecting peace and order in the region, such as illegal drugs, violent extremism and criminality.
