THE ARMED Forces of the Philippines apologized on Monday for erroneously including some University of the Philippines alumni in its list of alleged New People’s Army recruits.

“We sincerely apologize for those who were inadvertently affected by inconsistencies regarding the List of Students who joined NPA (Died or Captured) that was posted in the AFP Information Exchange Facebook account,” it said in a statement.

“The Office of the J7, AFP is already conducting an internal investigation as to how the list got published. Personnel who are responsible will be held to account,” it added.

The apology came hours after Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana acknowledged the mistake committed by the military, branding it an “unpardonable gaffe.”

“We want to assure the public that we are now reviewing our process and procedures to ensure that similar incidents will not happen again in the future,” it said.

A Facebook post by the AFP Information Exchange falsely listed 27 people as “UP students who became NPA, died or captured”.

Seven of those named in the list joined a virtual briefing on Saturday, January 23, to denounce the post.

Raffy Aquino, a member of the Free Legal Assistance Group who was included in the list, said the AFP should apologize.

“I was a UP student for twelve straight years, from high school to law school; there was no opportunity for me to be associated in any way with the New People’s Army,” Aquino said.

SIGN OF UNPROFESSIONALISM

Senator Francis ‘Kiko’  Pangilinan welcomed the apology but said that the error was alarming.

“Ang pagkakamaling ito ay nakababahala dahil senyales ito na kumakalat na ang unprofessionalism at pamumulitika sa AFP. Dapat natin tandaan na ang politicized at unprofessional armed forces noong panahon ni Marcos ang siyang naging dahilan ng disunity at coup plots noong dekada 80 at 90,” Pangilinan said.

“Tinatanggap natin ang apology subalit dapat seryosohin ng liderato ng AFP na walang puwang ang unprofessionalism at incompetence sa ating AFP,” he added.

The senator said those who came out with the list should be held accountable.