Manila, March 26 -- The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) on Wednesday maintained that it is "laser-focused" on its mandate of protecting the country and its people even as it reiterated its appeal to be insulated from "political noise".

In a Bagong Pilipinas Ngayon interview, AFP spokesperson Col. Francel Margareth Padilla said the military remains a professional organization.

"Kami po ay laser focused sa aming mandato for national security and of course, para po pahalagahan itong ating seguridad ng bawat mamamayang Pilipino and lalo na po padating na ang eleksyon so ito po yung gusto nating tutukan (yan) ngayon. (We are laser-focused on our mandate of national security, and of course, to provide security for every Filipino citizen...