The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) firmly denies the propaganda, claiming that soldiers are resigning en masse in support of former President Rodrigo Duterte, who was recently arrested over allegations of crimes against humanity.
AFP Spokesperson Col. Francel Margareth Padilla urged the public to exercise the highest form of discernment and refrain from spreading unverified information both online and offline amid current events.
“The AFP remains a professional, unified, and non-partisan institution committed to its constitutional mandate of defending the nation and serving the Filipino people. Our personnel remain focused on upholding the rule of law and the chain of command,” Padilla told reporters Thursday.
The AFP official also called on the public to act responsibly in disseminating information. “Let us prioritize unity and allow legal processes to unfold. We have full confidence in our institutions to handle these matters with due diligence,” she added.
Philippine Army spokesperson Col. Louie Dema-ala echoed her statements, emphasizing there is no indication of mass resignation from their ranks.
“We have not received any reports of soldiers resigning. If the basis is purely social media, we cannot believe that,” Dema-ala said. “Currently, there is no actual report from the Philippine Army of any soldier resigning.”
The Philippine Army, which has over 100,000 personnel, remains focused on its constitutional mandate despite unfounded rumors.
Dema-ala said the morale of the Army remains high and that no loyalty checks are necessary. “We are a professional organization, and our focus is on fulfilling our mandate. The Army remains intact,” he added.
In response to the rumors, Dema-ala reiterated the advice of their commanding general Lieutenant General Roy Galido: “To our soldiers, just follow the command, remain professional, and focus on the tasks given by our higher headquarters.”
Meanwhile, the Philippine Air Force (PAF) also dismissed reports of unrest within its ranks. PAF Spokesperson Col. Consuelo Castillo said they remain a professional organization focused on performing their mandate to protect the state and the people.
“We have not monitored any unrest or noted any personnel resignations. Our airmen remain alert and ready to perform their duty to maintain peace and security,” Castillo added.
The Philippine Navy, for its part, also underscored its adherence to the chain of command. It likewise assured that they remain steadfast in its duty to ensure national security and stability, according to spokesman Capt. John Percie Alcos.
“The Philippine Navy assures all Filipinos that we uphold the highest standard of professionalism. Every sailor and marine will remain loyal to the constitution and to the oath that we took to serve the country and the Filipino people,” Alcos said.