Democracy delivered at the 2025 midterm elections
General Romeo Brawner Jr. PA, Chief of Staff, Armed Forces of the Philippines
On Monday, under the unrelenting blaze of the summer sun, tens of millions of Filipinos rose with purpose and resolve. In every corner of our archipelago, from mountain villages to coastal towns, our fellow countrymen lined up patiently, ballots in hand and hearts full of hope.
Braving the sweltering heat, they cast their votes for more than 18,000 national and local offices, not just as citizens but as stewards of our collective future. Among them were the men and women of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP)—alert, steadfast, and impartial. We were there so that everyone could vote freely and safely.
Ensuring the orderly conduct of the 2025 midterm elections, the AFP deployed approximately 18,000 personnel nationwide, including over 16,000 Philippine Army troops, with nearly 7,000 assigned to checkpoints and around 10,000 to polling centers.
From transporting election materials across land and sea to safeguarding remote barangays, and maintaining peace in areas long affected by conflict, our troops fulfilled their mission with discipline, dignity, and a deep sense of patriotism.
I strongly believe that our presence as the country’s armed forces offered more than just security. It brought calm amid the clamor, and stood as a quiet, dignified expression of service. While the people were choosing their leaders, their soldiers stood watch to protect the process.
It fills me with pride and deep gratitude to see how our military personnel stood their ground, not out of allegiance to any political figure or party, but out of unwavering devotion to the nation.
The election period was not without its challenges. But thanks to the close coordination between the AFP, the Commission on Elections, the Philippine National Police, and civil society partners, the 2025 midterm elections were successfully conducted peacefully, credibly, and securely. This was democracy in action, and we are honored to have done our part.
Our efforts were made possible by strong inter-agency coordination and advances in automated election systems, which helped ensure swift, transparent, and credible results.
As we turn the page to a new chapter in our national story, the AFP remains firm in its commitment to the Constitution. We will continue to serve as protectors of peace, defenders of our freedoms, and enablers of national development.
Democracy is not a single moment; it is a shared and ongoing responsibility. It lives not only in the ballot cast, but in the conversations we have, the choices we make, and the values we defend every day. While the AFP is entrusted with peacekeeping, it is the people’s vigilance that gives democracy its true strength.
To every voter who showed up despite the weather and hardships, especially those in vulnerable communities, you are the heartbeat of this nation. We are grateful to the poll workers, teachers, and volunteers who braved the long hours, harsh conditions, and complex logistics, all for the good of the nation.
Nation-building does not end at the ballot box. It continues in the way we uplift our communities, hold our leaders accountable, and strive for unity over division.
With that, we implore every Filipino to keep working together not just with the
government or the armed forces, but with each other. Keep showing up and keep caring.
Know that the AFP will always be here, doing the same. That is The General Idea.
Mabuhay ang ating demokrasya, ang sambayanang Pilipino, at ang Pilipinas!
