The Armed Forces of the Philippines said there is no need to conduct loyalty checks among its ranks amid the political fallout between President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and former President Rodrigo Duterte.
“The statement of AFP chief of staff Gen. Romeo Brawner Jr. is there is not even a need for a loyalty check,” military spokesperson Col. Francel Padilla said in a press conference yesterday.
Padilla made the statement in response to queries if the AFP has monitored any division among its ranks after Duterte called on the military and the police to protect the Constitution against alleged threats from pro-Charter change groups.
“The keyword here is that the AFP is non-partisan. We will continue to focus on our mission to end our local terrorist insurgency problem and transition ultimately to territorial defense,” she said.
In a press conference earlier this month, Duterte said only “stupid people” will link him to destabilization efforts against the administration as he urged Filipinos to observe the rule of law.
“Who in their right mind — police or military — will meet with me to talk about destabilization? Why should I do that? To find someone to replace Marcos? I am comfortable with Marcos, why should I replace him?”
Asked if he is satisfied with the Marcos administration, Duterte said then: “In a sense, we have not seen any issue of corruption or abuse.
In a sense, Marcos is treading a straight path.”
“I can’t say there is a need for change or anything. I do not see any need for agitation — nothing,” he added.
On Sunday, however, Duterte warned his successor that efforts to amend the Constitution through a people’s initiative could lead to Mr. Marcos suffering the fate of his late father who was ousted in 1986.
