Gibo: DND, AFP had no role in Rody's arrest

The Department of National Defense (DND) and the military had nothing to do with the arrest of former president Rodrigo Duterte, Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro Jr. maintained yesterday.

- MICHAEL PUNONGBAYAN

"The Department of National Defense and the Armed Forces of the Philippines have no law enforcement mandate," he stressed in a statement.

"Our sole mandate is to give support to the Philippine National Police (PNP) when it is asked for. And therefore, such ends our jurisdiction," he said.

Teodoro issued the statement after being alluded to as among those who allegedly planned Duterte's arrest and transfer to the custody of the International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague.

Vice President Sara Duterte has also expressed her concerns over how the military has been very silent in all that has happened to the former commander-in-chief.

"The operation is clearly a law enforcement one, and the Philippine National Police has the power to ask the armed forces to assist," Teodoro noted.

"And that is the extent of the participation of my department and the Armed Forces of the Philippines. And all other matters in supporting the Philippine National Police are governed by operational security," he said.

The AFP earlier repeatedly insisted that it will not get itself involved in politics and that its officials and personnel remain non-partisan and loyal to the Constitution and the chain of command.