PMA officials ban poll campaigns on campus

By Dexter A. See

FORT DEL PILAR, Baguio City – The administration of the Philippine Military Academy here Thursday warned national candidates who intend to join the traditional alumni homecoming of the Academy this week to refrain from openly campaigning but instead make the celebration as a time to mingle with their classmates.

The premier military school in Asia is celebrating its annual alumni homecoming festivities which will commence Saturday with the traditional parade of classes.

Vice Admiral Leonardo Calderon Jr., PMA superintendent, said no politician or their supporters will be allowed to campaign inside the hallowed grounds of the academy as well as distribute own campaign materials so that they will not disrupt the smooth flow of the activities prepared for the alumni homecoming celebration.

Numerous national candidates who are either members or adopted members of PMA classes are expected to visit this mountain resort city this week purposely to join the annual alumni homecoming of the academy and campaign in various parts of the Cordillera.

In previous elections, PMA authorities have been successful in banning open campaigning inside the Academy although there were some supporters of candidates who were able to sneak in campaign materials and distributed the same to the audience which created commotions among them and the military enforcing the ban.

Calderon explained the institution needs to uphold its non-partisan stature since the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the Philippine National Police are considered apolitical.

While there are efforts in the past to try to influence and infiltrate the military and the police into siding with a certain national or local candidate, the PMA official claimed they have always been firm and decisive in turning down such efforts so that it will not become a precedent for the coming generation of military leaders.