THE Armed Forces of the Philippines has launched an investigation into what it described as a “deliberate and orchestrated disinformation campaign” aimed at undermining public confidence in the military.
This as the AFP also dismissed renewed allegations regarding P15-billion ghost projects within the military.
AFP spokesperson Col. Francel Margareth Padilla said they are closely examining a series of developments, including press conferences, coordinated social media posts, and amplified online content that appear to follow a synchronized pattern.
“It appears to be part of a sophisticated and multi-layered disinformation campaign. You can see the unfolding events. They are deliberate. The pattern is synchronized,” Padilla told reporters on Thursday.
“The narratives, even in social media, involving such issues, such as the press conference conducted by Chavit Singson, the social media posts of Colonel Audie Mongao, and others concerning the AFP, seem to indicate that these are not isolated issues,” she added.
According to Padilla, the timing, content, and amplification of the narratives suggested a multi-layered information operation designed to not only weaken confidence in the AFP, but to also sow divisiveness in the ranks.
“We have to look at the timing, the content, and the amplification of issues that come out in social media,” Padilla said.
The AFP’s initial assessment indicated that a certain group was deliberately creating “a crisis narrative against the AFP and the broader security sector” to stir public anger and justify a planned mass rally in the National Capital Region (NCR) on Feb. 25.
“This pattern of distorted claims, emotional appeals, and repeated misinformation is meant not only to weaken confidence in our armed forces, but to also create instability,” Padilla noted.
She said the AFP was trying to determine who might be behind the narratives, how they were being disseminated, and whether external actors were supporting or directing the initiative.
Nevertheless, Padilla assured the public that the AFP remained focused on its mandate, and would continue to act on legitimate concerns through proper legal and institutional channels.
She also urged the public to rely on verified information from credible sources, and to reject attempts to mislead, divide and destabilize the nation.
“We remain solid, professional, disciplined, and united in one purpose. We remain vigilant about what’s going on. We won’t be carried away by the noise, and we are steadfast with our mandate,” Padilla said.
In a statement, the AFP also clarified that the P15 billion in question apparently referred to the TIKAS Program, which is exclusively implemented and managed by the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH).
“Allegations that (AFP chief Gen. Romeo Brawner Jr.) violated the Philippine Military Academy Honor Code are completely false. No complaint, investigation, or finding exists to support this accusation. It is a fabricated narrative intended to malign the reputation of a senior military officer,” the AFP statement read.
“Furthermore, the AFP categorically denies receiving P15 billion for ‘ghost projects,’” it added.
The AFP called on the public to stay vigilant against recycled and misleading narratives and to rely only on official and credible sources.
