Philippines limits roles of soldiers during elections

dpa German Press Agency
Published: Thursday October 12, 2006

Manila- Philippine election, defence and military officials on Thursday signed an agreement limiting the involvement and duties of soldiers during elections. The agreement would take effect starting in congressional and local elections in May 2007.

It was signed by Defence Secretary Avelino Cruz, Commission on Elections chairman Benjamin Abalos and armed forces chief of staff General Hermogenes Esperon.

The move to limit the roles of the armed forces in the country's elections was a result of allegations the military was involved in massive fraud during the May 2004 presidential elections.

"This (agreement) is a big step toward the insulation of the armed forces of the Philippines from politics," Cruz said.

Under the agreement, the duties of soldiers are limited to providing security, manning checkpoints in locations identified by elections officials and enforcing a ban on carrying firearms.

Soldiers can no longer be deputized to perform poll duties, such as counting or canvassing of votes, and transportation of ballots, other election paraphernalia and elections results.

Last year, some military officials, including Esperon, were accused of being involved in rigging the results of the presidential vote in the southern region of Mindanao.

A military inquiry cleared all the officials linked to the alleged fraud, which was supposedly done in favour of President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo.

Arroyo, who denied cheating in the 2004 elections, has supported efforts to reduce the poll duties of soldiers in a bid to shield the military from partisan politics.

© 2006 dpa German Press Agency