There is no bad blood between the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and Philippine National Police (PNP) despite the fatal shooting by policemen of four soldiers in Jolo, Sulu, last week.
This was the assurance made on Sunday by Maj. Gen. Edgard Arevalo, AFP spokesman, after President Duterte’s talk to the troops in Zamboanga City last Friday.
(AP Photo / Bullit Marquez / FILE PHOTO / MANILA BULLETIN)
"Tayo ay isang propesyonal na organisasyon. Alam natin na meron tayong mga damdamin at nauunawin natin 'yun lalung-lalo na ang mga kaanak nitong mga namatay at itong mga mismong kasamahan sa unit nitong napatay nating mga sundalo. (We are a professional organization. We understand how the families and comrades of the slain soldiers are feeling)," Arevalo said in a radio interview over dzBB.
"But be that as it may, being matured and professional military personnel, ang tagubilin po ng ating AFP Chief of Staff ay hayaang gumulong ang hustisya (the guidance of AFP Chief of Staff General Felimon Santos Jr. is to let justice take its course)," he added.
Arevalo emphasized the need for the military commanders to turn their focus on the "bigger" fight that they need to face, and that is to eradicate the enemies of the state such as terrorists, communist rebels, and other threat groups.
He also echoed the sentiment of Duterte, who, during his talk to troops, questioned what good will revenge bring to the military, police and the country in general amid fears of retaliation over the June 29 shooting incident.
Duterte earlier appealed to the military and police commanders to help "calm the waters" and avoid cultivating hatred which is a "dangerous" thing to do.
"Ano ikang kabutihan ang maihahatid noon sa ating bayan? (What good will it (revenge) bring to our country?)," Arevalo asked.
"Let us put the interest of the organization above our own. Hayaan nating gumulong ang imbestigasyon, maparusahan ang may sala, pero huwag nating kalimutan na mayroon tayong napakahalagang misyon na ginagampanan (Let us allow the investigation to take place so that offenders will be punished, but we should not forget that we also have a very important mission to do)," he stressed.
Arevalo said the AFP hopes that the results of the probe being conducted by the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) will be out within the month.
"We are hopeful within this month at the most ano o mas maaga pa ay mabigyang linaw na kaagad ang nangyari at mabigyang karampatang aksyon. (We are hopeful that we can clear this issue within this month at the most or earlier and the necessary actions will be done)," he said.