Vice President Leni Robredo on Sunday, Nov. 28, expressed her appreciation for the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), particularly for “maintaining its independence” as an institution.

Speaking on her weekly radio show, Robredo noted that she attended the regular security and defense briefing with AFP officials last Friday, Nov. 26, her fifth since she assumed office in 2016.

“Bahagi ito ng ating trabaho bilang vice president na ina-apprise ‘yung opisina kung ano iyong mga threat, ano iyong kailangan kong malaman, ano iyong ginagawa nila (This is part of my work as vice president that the office is being apprised about the threats, what I need to know, what are they doing),” she said.

“Confidential ‘yung information kaya hindi natin maiisawalat pero mahalaga kasi na alam natin kung nasaan na tayo (The information is confidential that’s why we can’t reveal it but it is important to know where we are) as far as many things are concerned,” Robredo added.

READ: Robredo assures AFP of support in anti-insurgency campaign; clears 'elephant in the room'

The Vice President then thanked the armed forces, prompted by the assistance it has given to her office on its coronavirus pandemic response.

“Pero ako lang (I’m), very appreciative kasi ako sa AFP. Kasi kahit hindi siya perpekto, until now talaga name-maintain nya ‘yung kanyang (of the AFP. Although it’s not perfect, until now it maintain its) independence as an institution. Hindi hinahayaan na maging instrumento siya (If doesn’t allow to be instrument of anyone),” she said.

Robredo cited the assistance given by the AFP to her office in the distribution of personal protective equipment (PPE) sets and other medical supplies nationwide.

The military has also helped the Office of the Vice President (OVP) in the construction of temporary shelters for medical frontliners in Metro Manila hospitals.

READ: AFP Chief lauds military engineers in VP Robredo's frontliners’ shelter project

“Pero sa atin, lagi tayo nagpapasalamat sa AFP. Kasi alam mo, during the pandemic, grabe iyong partnership namin with them (We are always thankful to the AFP. Because you know, during the pandemic, our partnership with them is very strong),” she said.

During her security briefing, Robredo addressed the “elephant in the room” and told the military officials that she supports their anti-insurgency program, though maintained that the “careless” red-tagging of some members of the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC) put the entire task force in a bad light.

This came after she was quoted as saying she wants the NTF-ELCAC abolished. Robredo did not delve further into these comments during her radio show.