AFP warns groups vs attempts to divide military, denies restiveness

Carlito Galvez Jr.

Armed Forces of the Philippines Chief of Staff Carlito Galvez Jr. denied on Sunday that there was restiveness within the military ranks, warning persons and groups against attempts to divide the organization.

Galvez issued a statement on Sunday amid claims by Communist Party of the Philippines founder Jose Maria Sison that a faction of the AFP was just “waiting for the moment when the mass protests reach a certain scale and level of intensity” to act.

‘AFP will be united’

“Let me belie claims by some quarters of divisiveness or rumblings in the AFP. I assure our people that, as in many times in the past, the AFP will be united and strong as an organization,” Galvez said.

In cautioning people and groups sowing intrigue and discord to try to divide the AFP, he stressed, “You will not succeed.”

Even then the AFP chief of staff reminded all military personnel “not to meddle or take part in partisan politics. Our loyalty is to the Constitution.”

Galvez ordered all troops to adhere to the rule of law and always obey the chain of command, warning “Violation of these instructions will be dealt with severely and personnel who will get involved will be immediately relieved from their posts and investigated.”

Personal views

He conceded that AFP personnel might have personal views on issues, which he said was a sign of “an intelligent and mature organization,” but assured that the AFP would “always put the interest of the organization and the nation above our own.”

For his part, AFP public affairs office chief, Col. Noel Detoyato, described as “very remote” any occurrence that military personnel would move to oust the sitting President.