Army official won't support soldiers' candidacy

Aguiting, Kananga, Leyte , Philippines   – Lt. Col. Roberto Capulong, commanding officer of the 19th IB Commando Battalion said that he would not support any of the military now in confinement for rebellion charges if they opted to run for public office.

“Anong magagawa nila?” (“What could they do?”) Capulong said of the plans of Col. Ariel Querubin and Gen. Danilo Lim.

But he said he would not stop his men if they will support the two confined military officers if they say his men have their basic rights to vote, but Capulong said he would not. He said that the people should be very careful in choosing for senators because they have a big task to the country. If the people will pick a senator who is in prison, what could they do for the good of the country?

Capulong said Senator Antonio Trillanes IV is about to finish one half of his term, yet he had done nothing for the country because he is imprisoned for rebellion. Though he said he is supportive of other retired military officers running for public office, he dares not to support rightist military groups, he said.

However, Capulong said that he could not do anything if Lim and Querubin would push through with their plans but he is hoping the two would prefer not to listen to the insinuations of other people.