On destabilization rumors: No loyalty check needed – AFP chief

General Romeo Brawner Jr. (REUTERS)

MANILA, Philippines — A loyalty check was not necessary among soldiers even after Armed Forces of the Philippines chief Gen. Romeo Brawner Jr. said there were supposed rumors of destabilization efforts against the government.

“It’s not needed at this time. The AFP chief’s reminder for the troops last Friday is constantly being done. It was just to remind us because it’s better to be always reminded to be reinforced to do the right thing,” AFP spokesperson Col. Medel Aguilar said in a radio interview.

Brawner told the troops at a change of command ceremony in Zamboanga City on Friday to ignore calls to participate in “destabilization efforts” to overthrow the Marcos administration.

He walked back on his comments on Saturday, saying he was “taken out of context.” “I did not mention a destabilization plot. When you say plot, it’s like there is a plan that is ready for execution,” he told reporters.

“The context of that speaking engagement is, I was talking to our troops, our sailors, airmen and what I was saying was that—I was reminding them that as soldiers, we should take our oath seriously that we protect the Constitution,” he added.

Aguilar, meanwhile, said these reported efforts were still subject for validation. “We hope to have this investigated thoroughly so the public would be at ease. But as we speak, there is no threat to our security and there are no existing plots,” he said. INQ