While the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) is aware of the tumultuous developments in the government, particularly the Senate tensions, it asserted that it is not their mandate to interfere.

“Of course nakikita namin ‘yung nangyayari sa ating bansa. Hindi naman po kami bulag, o hindi rin kami bingi. We know what is happening. Pero hindi naman namin mandato na makialam sa politika. That is not our mandate,” AFP Chief of Staff General Romeo Brawner Jr. told reporters in a chance interview.

This is in response to Davao 1st District Rep. Paolo “Pulong” Duterte’s harsh remarks about the military needing eyeglasses to clearly see the occurring “injustices.”

Duterte had urged members of the military to “stand for truth and justice” and uphold the Constitution.

“The country is watching. History is watching. And humanity is waiting for who will really stand up for truth and justice,” the lawmaker wrote in a social media post.

Senator Sherwin “Win” Gatchalian was elected as Senate President Pro Tempore and, concurrently, Acting Senate President on June 3.

Insisting he retains the Senate presidency, Senator Alan Peter Cayetano issued an advisory enforcing an 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. working schedule from Monday, June 8, to Thursday, June 11.