Senate President Francis Escudero on Monday urged the Duterte camp not to involve the Armed Forces of the Philippines in every issue involving the political family.

This, after Vice President Sara Duterte said the military should explain why it allowed the Philippine National Police to be in control of Villamor Air Base when her father, former President Rodrigo Duterte was arrested.

"Alam mo, hindi ko rin ma-intindihan yung concern na yun ng ating Vice President. Maliban sa ito'y patuloy, pagpapatuloy ng tila mensahe na common sa kanila, na umaapila palagi sa sandatahang lakas, sa anumang level, anumang issue, anumang kaganapan," Escudero said. 

"Dahil hindi ko rin maunawaan kung ano yung apila niyang sinasabi kaugnay noon, na yung Presidential Security Command daw ay under ng AFP. Pero anong gusto niyang palabasin? Magbabangayan ang sundalo at ang pulis? Claro, law enforcement operation yun na nag-assist lamang ang AFP.  At hindi pwedeng palagan (at) lumaban ang AFP sa kapulisan kaugnay sa law enforcement operation. Bakit ba natin pilit na pinag-aaway yung dalawa?" 

Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro earlier said that the defense department and the military are not primarily tasked with law enforcement.

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

He said the move to arrest Duterte was a law enforcement operation that the PNP could ask the military for help with. “And that is the extent of the participation of my department and Armed Forces of the Philippines. And all matters in supporting the Philippine National Police are governed by national security.”

TEODORO: DND, MILITARY HAVE NO LAW ENFORCEMENT MANDATE

"Marahil bahagi lamang ito sa constant na apila ng kanilang panig kaugnay sa Armed Forces of the Philippines. Um, nakampihan marahil sila o magkaroon ng posisyon o paninindigan sa ilan sa mga issue na involved sila," Escudero said.

"Well, ulitin ko, ang tila pilit nilang dinadamay ang sandatahang lakas sa iba't ibang isyu na hindi naman dapat talaga at wala namang isyu. Dahil facility man yan ng pulis, facility man yan ng sundalo, facility man yan ng executive branch o ng Kongreso, ang law enforcement operation ay law enforcement operation pa rin," he explained.

The Senate president maintained that the military should stay out of the political issues, adding that partisans should also stop dragging the AFP into any political disputes.

"Hindi dapat mangampi ang AFP kaninuman dapat tumayo sila sa likod ng chain of command at ng Saligang Batas sa ilalim ng commander-in-chief natin at hindi para sa kanila ang maglaro ng pulitika at pumabor sa isang kulay o kabilang kulay man." 

Escudero said, "At sana tigilan na rin ng magkabilang panig kaugnay sa panunuyo sa ating sandatahang lakas, dahil hindi natin ginugusto, hindi natin gusto na sila'y mang himasok, kada na lamang may hindi pagkakaunawan ang mga politiko sa ating bansa. Hindi nila trabaho maging referee sa anumang issue political sa ating bansa. "

Escudero, meantime, saw nothing wrong with Vice President Duterte's continued stay in the Netherlands, despite the appeal of the Palace for her to return to the country for work.

"Ang pangunahing trabaho para sa akin ng ikalawang pangulo ay maging handa kung sakasakaling sa panawagan ng panahon, ay kinakailangan niyang pumalit o humalinhin sa pangulo kung anumang kadahilanan. Yun para sa akin ang pangunahing trabaho niya," he said.