A member of the Army, in fatigues, speaks out in Davao City purportedly against partylist groups. Photo grabbed from ABS-CBN's Boto Mo Ipatrol Mo/Ako Ang Simula website.

A volunteer citizen journalist posted on Saturday at ABS-CBN’s Boto Mo Ipatrol Mo/Ako Ang Simula website photos of a soldier purportedly from the 69th Infantry Batallion of the Philippine Army as he was speaking out against certain partylist groups.

Armed with a presentation on a digital projector, the soldier, who was in Army uniform, was said to be railing against Bayan Muna, Gabriela, Kabataan and Anakpawis.

Pong Garcia, the citizen journalist who submitted the report and the photos questioned the wisdom and legality of the military’s active involvement in the partylist campaign.

Last Jan. 6, 2010, the Commission on Elections approved Resolution No. 8741 deputizing the AFP “deputized to ensure free, honest, orderly, peaceful and credible conduct of the May 10, 2010 national and local elections.”

The Comelec said that the resolution fulfills the ” need to clearly define the role of the AFP during national and local elections in assisting the Commission in protecting the electoral process while ensuring that its officers and personnel are insulated from partisan politics and are protected from unwarranted accusations of engaging in partisan political activities.”

Ironically, the soldier caught in the citizen’s report (as well as his commanding officer) may be violating this resolution, specifically this portion on “duties and functions”:

Look into the existence of any armed group organized to commit, or which is committing or attempting to commit, acts of terrorism, or threats to intimidate or coerce any person to vote for or against a candidate, and to suppress or prevent said acts of terrorism or threats

Just last week, Philippine Army chief Reynaldo Mapagu vowed non-partisanship in the run-up to the May 10 elections.

The last time the Philippine military interfered in elections was in 2007, when it filed trumped-up charges of multiple murder against Bayan Muna Rep. Satur Ocampo, and used proxies to disqualify Bayan Muna, Anakpawis and Gabriela from the partylist elections. Both efforts failed but the military got away with their brazen politicking.

Citing weak evidence, the Supreme Court ordered Ocampo’s release about a month before the May 2007 elections.

In 2004, generals were mentioned in the controversial Hello Garci recordings of telephone conversations purportedly between President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo and then-Comelec Commissioner Virgilio Garcillano.