"What should not happen but what is happening (now) is that the country’s soldiers are being used by different political forces. They should not allow this," Archbishop Arguelles said in an interview aired over Church-run Radio Veritas.

"I believe that the soldiers know what they should do and that is to defend the good of the people," he said. "Now, if ever there are some soldiers who involve themselves in politics and use their being soldiers, these are but people with vested interests. A real soldier will never do anything that will harm the country."

Archbishop Arguelles said that the change in government is also not part of the soldiers’ duty, which is to support the people.

"They (soldiers) should only support the people. They should not be in the forefront (of these moves to change the government). They should merely follow the people," the prelate said.

He said the military is also in need of renewal just like the country.

To the people, he said: "Let us not allow ourselves to be used and then the next day they will just dispose of us. Let us all be united for a common cause that is not selfish. Let us not join those people with different ideologies or even the political forces who have nothing in mind but their own self-interests."