The Armed Forces of the Philippines, the Philippine National Police, the Philippine Coast Guard, and all other agencies of government whose personnel are required to wear their uniforms have fastidious, rigid rules on the use of these uniforms and insignias.
Quite understandably, these authorities whose responsibilities include the enforcement of certain laws, would like to be respected and feared, the better to control and dominate the common population.
Many of these soldiers and policemen, however, are professional enough to respect their uniforms—taking care not to damage the reputation of their branches of service. They would rather show up in civilian clothes when “apprehending” prospective kidnap-for-ransom victims, or when transporting bags of shabu and other contraband, and more especially when delivering “maletas” (luggage) of dirty money to even dirtier politicians of the flood control mafia.
One top official — Rear Admiral Roy Vincent Trinidad — soiled his uniform when he engaged in campaigning for the 2028 elections, in a video interview with American PR propagandist Ray Powell. Trinidad is a retired Navy officer who is now spokesman for the West Philippine Sea as a naval reservist.
Trinidad made this violation of Civil Service Commission rules which prohibit government employees from political activities except to vote during elections. Being an officer of the AFP, Trinidad is also required to be politically neutral.
The rear admiral even had the temerity to admonish Filipino voters to reject certain candidates, and regulate social media.
Trinidad’s own words: “Regulate everything with the access by the young generation to smartphones. We are the number one social media capital of the world. Facebook is the number one platform. YouTube will be the second. It’s difficult to regulate everything but we need to inform the public first and foremost so that there would be others who would also be regulating or pushing for regulation by their children, by their peers, by their colleagues. … Influence is shaping as a real threat. It’s in the middle right now in our midst, recapping the truth, shaping public perception, shaping public opinion, hoping probably that by 2028 they could support a candidate who would be supportive to them and without the Filipino people knowing that they elected a pro-China election candidate.”
First, Ray Powell, a foreigner, has no business using the media to disparage any Filipino candidate, whether pro-China or pro-Vietnam or pro-US, using even an interview with a Navy officer whose inclination is towards American interests like him. Remember that Powell’s Sealight Foundation is being financed by the US Navy to do these print and broadcast narratives that muddle the real issues in the South China Sea.
Both the Civil Service and the Armed Forces say their officials and personnel are allowed only to vote or provide security as Comelec deputies, but should uphold neutrality.
While in uniform (making his statements official), Trinidad advocated the stringent regulation of social media which can be construed as stifling the constitutional freedom of free expression and free press. If a shart had a face, it would be….
Indeed, Rear Admiral Trinidad did his uniform an injustice, exposed it to ridicule, violated constitutional and CSC rules just to serve American interests well.
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