“That isn’t political criticism; that is sabotage, plain and simple”
AS CHAIRMAN Emeritus of four civic organizations, I have seen my share of political storms.
But the recent surge of malicious rumors about destabilization and coup plots against the administration of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. is a particularly cynical and destructive form of political noise.
Today, I am wholeheartedly supporting the Armed Forces of the Philippines and commending their strong, unequivocal stance against these lies.
The Fabricated Threat
Let me be absolutely clear: These stories about a coup are pure lies.
The AFP has spoken, and their message is unmistakable. They are loyal to the Constitution, loyal to their Commander-in-Chief, and loyal to the Filipino people. That commitment is an iron wall, and no baseless rumor can possibly break it down.
When the military warned that it “will not take this sitting down” after these malicious claims spread online, they weren’t just issuing a statement; they were drawing a line.
Military leaders have stressed no such plot exists and rightly denounced the rumors as deliberate attempts to create distrust.
I agree wholeheartedly: these are classic, textbook disinformation tactics. Their sole purpose is to divide the country and sow chaos.
Those who spread these rumors are not patriots; they are opportunists. They want to gamble with the nation’s stability while ordinary Filipinos are simply working hard to feed their families.
That isn’t political criticism; that is sabotage, plain and simple.
The Real Fight: Corruption
However, we cannot allow ourselves to be distracted by these phantom plots. We must focus on the real enemy that continues to plague our nation.
Let us be honest. The fight that truly matters is the fight against corruption. That is where the nation bleeds; that is where the people suffer.
The Marcos administration has made this anti-corruption drive its primary battle, and I believe that is precisely why some sectors are so desperate to distract us with talk of destabilization. They want us looking at shadows while the real disease festers.
We must not take our eye off the ball. Our collective energy must be directed toward supporting the government’s efforts to reform and build, not toward debunking ridiculous fictions.
A Modern and Professional Military
Those propagating these rumors fundamentally misunderstand the nature of our modern armed forces.
This is not the era of coup plots. Our soldiers are professionals. They know their sacred duty is to defend the Republic, not to destroy it from within.
The military stands united, and that unity is our nation’s greatest strength against both external and internal threats.
The message here is a clear one: the administration, the military, and the people remain firmly united.
Every rumor we expose, every lie we reject, makes our democracy stronger.
President Marcos has put the country on the path of recovery and real reform.
Those who try to derail that effort are not only attacking the President; they are attacking the Filipino people.
The truth is simple and undeniable: The AFP is loyal. Our institutions are solid. And our people are behind their President. The Republic will not be shaken.
(The writer, a doctorate degree holder, serves as Chairman Emeritus of four civic-oriented organizations: Alyansa ng Bantay sa Kapayapaan at Demokrasya (ABKD), People’s Alliance for Democracy and Reforms (PADER), Liga Independencia Pilipinas (LIPI), and Filipinos Do Not Yield (FDNY) Movement, through which he continues to advance the causes of sovereignty, reform, and the dignity of the Filipino people).
