Palace: Due process will be observed in relieved army colonel

MANILA, Philippines — Malacañang on Friday said that due process will be enforced in relation to the Philippine Army’s (PA) move to immediately relieve a colonel who allegedly withdrew support for President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.

“The President is listening and observing. If anyone should be held accountable, evidence will be used. Due process will be enforced, and what the law says will be applied,” Palace Press Officer Claire Castro said in Filipino in a Viber message to reporters when asked for a reaction to the matter.

READ: PH Army relieves colonel who allegedly withdrew support for Marcos

Colonel Audie Mongao was relieved by the PA from his post after a screenshot of his message expressing withdrawal of support for Marcos circulated on social media.

“Sobra na, tama na (Enough is enough)! The Filipino people [are] worth fighting for,” Mongao’s message read.

However, there was no information on when and where the supposed message was made.

READ: Palace on calls for AFP to drop support for Marcos: ‘Nothing to worry about’

Army spokesperson Col. Louie Dema-ala said, “By the direction of the Commanding General, Col. Mongao was immediately relieved from his post and put into [attached/unassigned] status to give way for a thorough investigation by Training Command.”

Army Training Command chief Maj. Gen. Michael Logico, in a separate social media post, said the unit is determining possible administrative and criminal charges against Mongao. /jpv