AFP distances itself from Marcos-Duterte spat

MANILA, Philippines — The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) on Tuesday called on personalities to spare the military from partisan politics.

AFP spokesperson Col. Francel Margareth Padilla made this statement after President Rodrigo Duterte enjoined the military to “correct” President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and his ally and cousin House Speaker Martin Romualdez.

“We want to be isolated from political issues,” Padilla said in a regular AFP press conference in Camp Aguinaldo.

READ: DOJ: Rodrigo Duterte’s ‘fractured governance’ remark bordering sedition

Padilla then reiterated that the AFP’s loyalty lies with “the flag, the constitution, and we adhere to the chain of command.”

READ: Rodrigo Duterte called out for trying to stir military vs Marcos

She added that the AFP doesn’t need to do “loyalty checks” this time.

“At this point, there is no need for loyalty checks, our chief of staff has already stated that he trusts that each soldier will perform its mandate accordingly and remain professional,” she continued.

The Department of Justice said Duterte’s remarks are bordering on sedition, while the Office of the Executive Secretary treated this as a blatant call for the military to launch a coup.

The former President made such statements following her daughter Vice President Sara Duterte’s remarks on Friday that she had already talked to a person whom she supposedly instructed to kill Marcos, his wife Liza, and cousin Romualdez if she is killed.

Marcos said he will not let this threat slide, with Romualdez also expressing his condemnation.