ARMED Forces chief Gen. Romeo Brawner Jr yesterday assured the public that no coup d’état or government overthrow will happen while he is at the helm of the military establishment.
Brawner’s statement came days after a retired Air Force general said on a social media post that there is restiveness in the ranks.
“As long as I serve as chief of staff, no coup shall happen. Not on my watch,” Brawner said in a statement.
Brawner assumed the top military post in July 2023. Under the law, he has a maximum tour of duty of three consecutive years “unless sooner terminated by the President.”
“We will not be shaken by rumor, nor outmaneuvered by noise,” said Brawner, adding the military “remains strong, professional, and firmly loyal to the chain of command.”
“We are a disciplined institution, grounded in respect for the Constitution, civilian authority, and the rule of law,” he added.
Brawner said “isolated grievances” do not define the Armed Forces and its commitment to service.
He asked critics not to mislead soldiers who are serving “quietly, honorably, and with steadfast loyalty to our Constitution and our country.”
“To those who persist in creating instability, I offer this not as a rebuke, but as a reminder. Do not sow doubt among the very ranks that safeguard our democracy,” he said.
He also urged the public to be discerning when discussing issues concerning government institutions and national security.
“Let us not be adversaries in the same nation we all claim to love. Let us be better stewards of our words, platforms, and influence, because patriotism is not measured by how loudly we speak, but by how wisely we choose unity over division, and nation-building over disruption,” said Brawner.
Retired Air Force Maj. Gen. Romeo Poquiz, in his post, said there “restiveness in the (military) ranks” and “the pot is boiling.”
“There are growing tremors within the Armed Forces and the Defense Department — and ignoring them would be a grave mistake,” he said.
Poquiz said “fellow generals” have accused Brawner of “favoritism, moral misconduct, and corruption.”
He said there are also “serious charges” against Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr — “disregarding” recommendations of the AFP Board of Generals; promotion of “unqualified protégés, some with administrative or criminal charges”; and “stalling” the AFP modernization program.
