THE Armed Forces dismissed reports about a supposed plan to oust President Ferdinand Marcos Jr amid allegations of corruption in flood control projects involving government officials including lawmakers.
“The Armed Forces of the Philippines rejects malicious narratives about supposed plans to unseat the President or launch destabilization efforts. These claims are baseless, unfounded, and far removed from reality,” said Col. Xerxes Trinidad, chief of the AFP’s Public Affairs Office, in a statement on Wednesday night.
“Our loyalty does not rest on politics or personalities, but firmly on the Constitution, the Republic, and the Filipino people,” he said.
“The AFP’s role is clear: to defend our democratic institutions, not to arbitrate political disputes,” he added.
Trinidad reiterated the military remains a “professional and disciplined force,” united under the chain of command.
“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 also said.
He assured Filipinos the AFP remains “steadfast in our constitutional mandate — a force of principle and discipline, loyal to the flag, the Constitution, and the Republic.”
Trinidad was responding to a report about an attempt to unseat Marcos before the September 21 anti-corruption rallies in Metro Manila and other parts of the country. A riot broke out on Mendiola, Manila, leading to injuries to nearly 100 policemen and arrest of more than 200 protesters who hurled stones and burned properties.
The report said a leader of a large Christian-denomination sect met with a “top Army commander” days before the mass protests to convince the latter to move against the President. It did not name the personalities involved.
The church leader reportedly vowed to mobilize 500,000 people to Rizal Park in Manila during the protest and order them to march to Malacañang, signaling the military to announce its withdrawal of support from the President.
It said the church leader wanted Vice President Sara Duterte to take over the presidency. After several meetings, the Army commander eventually rejected the plan to install Duterte.
Meanwhile, the AFP also denounced what it said was “vile and malicious” messages circulating online about a supposed coup plot involving the US Central Intelligence Agency, the Armed Forces, and the Department of National Defense.
The alleged coup will reportedly be led by Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr who will supposedly head a caretaker government wherein AFP chief Gen. Romeo Brawner Jr will be the defense secretary.
“This is an outright lie. The AFP categorically states that this is dangerous disinformation — a deliberate attempt to poison the minds of our people, weaken the chain of command, and sow division between the Commander-in-Chief and the Armed Forces,” the AFP said in a “public warning.”
