The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) clarified that the deployment of Marines in the Senate is part of their standard security operations and has no connection to any recent incident. According to AFP spokesperson Col. Francel Margareth Padilla, troops are regularly assigned to provide perimeter security to various institutions as part of long-standing protocols.
Standard Security Protocols
Col. Padilla stated that similar deployments are also in place at key government buildings such as Malacañang Palace and even at the Rizal Monument. This practice has been implemented for several years as part of the soldiers' duty to ensure security. The AFP official made the statement amid questions and rumors linking the deployment to a possible arrest of Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa in connection with the International Criminal Court (ICC) case.
Role of the Marines
The AFP emphasized that the role of the Marines is limited to perimeter security, meaning they do not enter the Senate building or the Palace. However, the deployment may still change depending on the situation if their assistance is requested. The AFP reiterated that the presence of Marines should not be interpreted as a response to any specific event but rather as a routine measure to maintain security at government institutions.
