The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) on Thursday rejected circulating claims of destabilization and an alleged coup plot against President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., calling them a baseless and unfounded ‘‘malicious narrative.’’
‘‘The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) rejects malicious narratives about supposed plans to unseat the President or launch destabilization efforts. These claims are baseless, unfounded, and far removed from reality,’’ AFP Public Affairs Office chief Col. Xerxes Trinidad said.
Trinidad also emphasized that the military is loyal to the Constitution and to the Filipino people.
‘‘Our loyalty does not rest on politics or personalities, but firmly on the Constitution, the Republic, and the Filipino people. The AFP’s role is clear: to defend our democratic institutions, not to arbitrate political disputes,’’ he said.
‘‘We remain a professional and disciplined force, with the chain of command intact and united. Efforts to link the AFP to intrigue are nothing more than attempts to sow division, cast doubt on our leadership, and derail the President’s fight against corruption,’’ he added.
Trinidad further assured the public that the AFP will stick with its constitutional mandate.
‘‘We will remain steadfast in our constitutional mandate a force of principle and discipline, loyal to the flag, the Constitution, and the Republic,’’ he said.
Meanwhile, the AFP on Wednesday cautioned the public against fake social media accounts impersonating its Chief of Staff, Gen. Romeo S. Brawner Jr. In an advisory, the military said these bogus Facebook pages and online profiles use Brawner’s name, photos, and rank to deceive the public and spread false information.
The AFP stressed that the accounts are neither sanctioned by the General nor connected with the military.
‘‘We strongly urge everyone to exercise caution and refrain from engaging with or sharing content from unverified accounts,’’ the AFP said.
The public was advised to follow only the verified official social media platforms of the AFP and its Public Affairs Office for legitimate updates and announcements. It also urged netizens to report suspicious accounts to help prevent the spread of disinformation online.
The AFP reiterated its commitment to transparency and maintaining open communication with the public through its official channels, saying its focus remains on fulfilling its mandate to defend the republic and protect democratic institutions.
