If Filipinos want to help solve the various societal issues faced by the country, then the first thing to do is to elect candidates who are worthy, not to call for a coup d’etat or military uprising.

Thus, said Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) chief General Romeo Brawner Jr. during a joint meeting by the military, Philippine National Police (PNP), and the Commission on Elections (Comelec) on Thursday, Jan. 9, in Camp Crame, Quezon City for the upcoming 2025 elections.

Brawner, PNP Chief Police Gen. Rommel Francisco Marbil, and Comelec Chairman George Erwin Garcia graced the activation of the National Election Monitoring Center (NEMC) in Camp Crame and reaffirmed their commitment to ensuring a safe and orderly election process for the national, local, and Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) parliamentary elections scheduled on May 12.

"Maraming mga problema ang ating bayan, minsan ang naiisip na lang nilang solusyon ay ang military kudeta or military junta. Hindi po ito ang solusyon (Our country faces a lot of problems, sometimes some people think the only solution is coup d’etat or military junta. This is not the solution),” Brawner said.

The military chief emphasized that the elections offer an opportunity for citizens to voice their concerns through their votes as he encouraged them to choose leaders who will work to correct societal issues.

He reiterated that elections should be the focal point for change and societal progress.

"Our call to the people is to use this election as a platform to express our desires by voting for the right individuals who will serve the country and our society,” the military chief noted.

In November last year, former president Rodrigo Duterte called on the AFP to “correct” the “fractured governance” of President Marcos Jr. and reconsider their support for the present administration.

The former leader, however, clarified that was not calling for a coup or the establishment of a military junta.

Background check

Meanwhile, the AFP said it was conducting a background check on the candidates to thwart potential “foreign influence” in the midterm polls.

“The AFP would like to clarify that its intensification of intelligence gathering is geared towards helping the Comelec ensure the integrity of the electoral process and safeguard national security,” AFP public affairs chief Col. Xerxes Trinidad said.

“This initiative is conducted in coordination with the Comelec and PNP, and focuses on identifying potential security threats arising from foreign interference and malign influence. Any findings will be confidentially relayed to the Comelec for appropriate action,” he added.

He said the AFP’s role is “strictly non-partisan” as their efforts are anchored on impartiality and respect for the democratic process.

Similarly, the AFP, PNP and Comelec outlined the government's comprehensive security measures to safeguard the electoral process and ensure the integrity of the elections.

Brawner highlighted the readiness of the AFP to deploy both personnel and resources for election-related operations.

He stressed the importance of the establishment of Joint Security Control Centers (JSCCs), a vital initiative aimed at enhancing coordination between the AFP, PNP, and Comelec.

Brawner said the AFP will work closely with the PNP and Comelec to ensure that the 2025 elections will be conducted in a secure environment “where every Filipino voter can exercise their right to vote freely and without fear.”