Several organizations representing retired generals and alumni of major military institutions on Tuesday denounced online rumors claiming that the recently granted pay increase for military and uniformed personnel (MUP) is a political move intended to placate restive troops.
“We categorically reject these claims as baseless disinformation. Such distortions not only obscure the facts but insult the integrity of the long-standing efforts made by the retiree community to secure the welfare of both the MUP retiree and their active-duty counterparts,” the Association of General and Flag Officers (AGFO), the Philippine Military Academy Alumni Association Inc. (PMAAAI), the National ROTC Alumni Association (NARAA), and Advocates for National Interest (ANI) stated.
They described these claims as “baseless disinformation,” stressing that Executive Order No. 107, which grants a base pay increase for MUPs, underwent a lengthy and transparent review.
“The truth is verifiable. This pay adjustment is the result of a transparent, 16-month administrative process, not a sudden political decision,” the group said.
The organizations traced the initiative back to August 2024, shortly after the issuance of EO 64, which approved pay adjustments for civilian government employees. Retired officers and alumni groups then pressed for parity, citing inflation and the need to support active-duty and retired personnel.
AGFO urged the public to “be vigilant against disinformation that seeks to politicize the welfare of our soldiers,” while expressing gratitude to President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. for approving the long-awaited adjustment.
On Friday, the Department of National Defense also dismissed claims that the proposed base pay increase for MUP is a form of “political appeasement” amid supposed efforts to destabilize the government.
