The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) on Monday said that while retired military officers are free to express their views, including on political issues, they must remain mindful of the “red lines” set by law.
In an interview on PTV-4’s Bagong Pilipinas Ngayon, AFP spokesperson Col. Francel Margareth Padilla said the military upholds the rights of all Filipinos—including retired soldiers—to express their opinions, but emphasized that such freedoms come with legal boundaries.
“Iginagalang po ng Sandatahang Lakas ng Pilipinas iyong karapatan po ng bawat Pilipino pati na itong ating mga beterano po na magsalita, maglahad po ng kanilang pananaw (The AFP respects the right of every Filipino, even our military veterans, to speak, to express their opinion),” she said.
Padilla said that although they are not curtailing the right of everyone to speak their minds, they must remember that there are “red lines” under the law.
Her statement comes amid the calls of some retired military officers, including on social media, for the AFP to withdraw its support from the Marcos administration in light of the alleged anomalies being linked to government flood control projects.
Asked if retired military personnel can be sanctioned by the AFP if they are found violating the law, Padilla said this is being looked into by their legal officers.
“It will go through a process of review, investigation and if proven only then will the necessary sanctions will come into play,” Padila said.
AFP Public Affairs Office chief Col. Xerxes Trinidad earlier denied that there is a brewing destabilization plot against the government among the military’s ranks stemming from the corruption issues hounding flood control projects.
