MANILA, Philippines--Five years after the so-called Oakwood mutiny, Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. believes the military's loyalty to the chain of command is "beyond doubt" and he does not see a similar uprising happening again.

Teodoro also said that the government has "come a long way" in addressing the grievances raised by the Magdalo group of junior officers and enlisted men, who seized the former Oakwood luxury apartments in Makati City in 2003.

"I'm sure [the military chief] General Yano will agree with me on the solidarity and stability of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, and its loyalty to the chain of command is beyond doubt at this point in time," the defense chief told reporters in Camp Aguinaldo on Sunday.

"I don't think there will be a repeat of Oakwood or any such incident, and any repeat, if it ever happens, shall be dealt with severely, as what happened in Manila Peninsula," he said.

Teodoro was referring to the November 29, 2007 takeover by the Magdalo leaders, including Senator Antonio Trillanes IV of the Manila Peninsula hotel, also in the Makati financial district, which, like the 2003 uprising, failed to unseat President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.

"I don't think there is any issue for it to happen again. If it happens again, then it would have been the result of selfish politicking," Teodoro said.