The Department of National Defense (DND) represented by Secretary Avelino J. Cruz, Jr. and the Commission on Elections represented by Chairman Benjamin S. Abalos, Sr. signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) last October 12, 2006 at the Wack-Wack Golf and Country Club in Mandaluyong City.

The COMELEC and the DND reached a consensus in defining the role and functions  of the Armed Forces of the Philippines in the coming May 2007 elections and in all elections including special elections, plebiscites, initiatives, referenda and other electoral exercises pursuant and in accordance with the constitutional provisions that the military should be insulated from partisan politics.

The COMELEC and DND agreed that the COMELEC shall only deputize actual units or commands of the AFP in areas affected by “serious armed threats” to the electoral process   as jointly identified by the COMELEC and the DND-AFP. The deputized AFP units shall   provide security to the area by deploying sufficient AFP military personnel to man, patrol and provide AFP visibility in the area, man checkpoints, and enforce the ban on carrying firearms. The following duties done on occasion by the AFP in the past such as transporting of ballots and other election paraphernalia and  providing security to polling places, members of the Board of Election Inspectors (BEI) and personnel of COMELEC and other employees of the government performing election duties, amongst others,  shall not be done anymore for the subsequent elections.  The AFP may however, subject to the approval of the AFP Chief of Staff, be requested to provide escorts to transportation facilities used in transporting election paraphernalia when the security provided by the Philippine National Police (PNP) cannot address the threat.

The five Commissioners of the COMELEC namely Commissioners Resurreccion Z. Borra, Florentino A. Tuason, Jr., Romeo A. Brawner, Rene V. Sarmiento and Nicodemo T. Ferrer were present in the said event. Witnessing on the side of the Armed forces of the Philippines were AFP Chief of Staff Gen. Hermogenes C. Esperon, Commanding General of the Philippine Air Force Lt. Gen. Jose L. Reyes, Flag Officer in Command of the Philippine Navy VAdm. Mateo M. Mayuga, and Commanding General of the Philippine Army Lt. Gen. Romeo  P. Tolentino. Also present in the event were MGen Romy Alamillo, BGen Jojy Leo L. Fojas and ASec Catherine P. Gonzales. Ambassador Henrietta T. De Villa, National Chairman of the Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting (PPCRV) and Mr. Damaso S. Magtual of the National Movement for Free Elections (NAMFREL) also signed as witnesses in the MOA.

This was a historic occasion for the DND and COMELEC. During the presscon, Sec. Cruz was thankful that they were able to come up with a mechanism to address the concerns of the military that they were being caught in the middle of the political turmoil and this shall also eliminate the temptation in the military to participate in politics. He also stated that the citizens’ arm should be the one to assist COMELEC in running the elections.

On the part of the AFP, Gen. Esperon expressed his optimism on the MOA. He said, “This early signing of the MOA will ensure that there will be conformity to what we have been agreed upon and the matter of uniformity of application will also follow since there will be enough time to prepare for this.” 

For those would violate the MOA, Sec. Cruz said that the sanctions and penalties under the military justice system shall be applied. Chairman Abalos further added, “The MOA will be incorporated with the rules and regulations of the Commission and violation of such will be considered as an election offense.”  

The representatives of the citizens’ arm also showed their support for the MOA. As De Villa expressed, “The civilian character in running elections is emphasized”. “This would enhance public’s confidence in the electoral process,” said Magtual of NAMFREL.