The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) was placed on red alert effective Friday in preparation for the May 10, 2010 elections.

“Effective today (Friday), we have declared red alert for all AFP units throughout the country. Our leaves and privileges are canceled,” said Lt. Col. Arnulfo Burgos Jr., AFP spokesman.

Burgos stressed the AFP will protect and ensure the integrity of the elections together with the Philippine National Police (PNP).

In another development, the AFP is now looking into the alleged bribery attempts on some soldiers as it warned military officials and non-commissioned officers from receiving bribes and engaging in partisan politics, saying they will face sanctions, even possible dismissal from the service.

Army Commanding General. Maj. Gen. Reynaldo Mapagu, in an interview, said that as far as the Army is concerned, they have not received any report or complaint about alleged attempts to bribe Army officials or troop members.

“If ever there will be an attempt, whoever will make the offer must be immediately arrested,” said Mapagu.

“We are continuously checking on those reports though so far, as I have said, we have not received any complaints about attempts to bribe any of our men,” he added.

Mapagu further said Defense Secretary Norberto Gonzales must have his sources, being the national security adviser at the same time defense secretary. “We are checking on the information,” he reiterated.

When asked what could be the sanction for those who will receive bribes, Mapagu said: “They will be arrested they will be charged accordingly, while those who will attempt to offer bribe, they should be arrested.”

“If they will try to bribe me, I will arrest them immediately. I’m serious,” said Mapagu.

“According (to the secretary) a Comelec insider told him about it (bribery attempts)… but how and why will you bribe the AFP and the PNP when we are not involved in the actual counting and the actual voting. We are even prohibited from being there (polling places), we should at least be 50 meters away (from the polling center). We don’t touch any election paraphernalia,” he explained.

“Our only role is to provide security,” he further emphasized.

The Army chief went on to say that the AFP is providing full support to its soldiers, including food and gasoline support during the elections. He said soldiers will not accept even food from candidates or political parties because this can be misconstrued as a form of bribe.

“So definitely, these people (those offering bribes) will not benefit from the military or even the police. That is because we are not in any way involve on anything that has got to do with the operation of the machine even during the counting,” he further stated.

AFP Deputy Chief of Staff for Operations Maj. Gen. Gaudencio Pangilinan, when asked for his reaction on the alleged bribery attempts, said: “That is expected. Nung araw pa yang mga storya na yan but we have continuously reminded our troops.”

Pangilinan said AFP Chief of Staff, Gen. Delfin Bangit has already instructed field commanders to immediately report if there will be any bribery attempt on them or their men.