The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) reaffirmed its loyalty to the chain of command on November 25, amid backlash against Vice President Sara Duterte for threatening to have President Ferdinand Marcos Jr assassinated.
AFP Chief General Romeo Brawner Jr urged the military to remain steadfast amid the escalating feud between the president and vice president. “In the past days, we have seen a myriad of events that have shaken the political environment of our country. As soldiers, we should not be shaken by this,” he told military personnel.
Brawner emphasized the military’s duty to the Constitution and reminded the troops to uphold the chain of command.
“That means that we have to follow the chain of command. We said (in our vow) that we are loyal to our country, we are loyal to our flag, we are loyal to our organization and we are loyal to the Constitution. This also goes to say that we are loyal to the duly constituted authorities, whoever that may be,” he said.
The AFP addressed public confusion on the same day, debunking social media posts that claimed troops were deployed to protect Duterte.
Some posts, including TikTok videos, claimed that soldiers sided with the vice president. “These claims come from unreliable sources and are not supported by any official AFP releases,” the AFP clarified in a statement.
The AFP condemned the spread of misinformation and warned against attempts to destabilize democratic institutions. “Attempts to undermine our military and democratic institutions with these fraudulent posts will not be tolerated,” it added.
Duterte fueled the controversy on November 23 morning when she publicly admitted to ordering a hitman to assassinate Marcos, First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos, and House Speaker Martin Romualdez if someone killed her first.
“I already talked to a person. I told the person, ‘If they kill me, kill Bongbong Marcos, Liza Araneta, and Martin Romualdez.’ No joke, no joke. I’ve left instructions,” the vice president said.
Duterte made the remarks just hours after announcing that she would disregard House orders to leave the Batasang Pambansa complex, in order to stay with her detained chief-of-staff, Zuleika Lopez.
The House cited Zuleika Lopez for contempt and ordered her detention for five days, accusing her of interfering in the investigation into spending by the Office of the Vice President and the Department of Education during Duterte’s tenure as secretary.
Once a key ally of Marcos under the victorious UniTeam coalition in the 2022 elections, Duterte now faces mounting criticism.
In response, Brawner reassured the public of the military’s professionalism and neutrality. “We are facing greater challenges that require the strength of a united country and armed forces,” he said.
“We call for calm and resolve, and for everyone to hold on to our values of respect and nationalism that will guide us in these trying times,” Brawner said.
Marcos vows to fight “troubling” threat of Duterte
On November 25, President Marcos addressed the nation in a strongly worded video, condemning Duterte’s remarks as a “troubling” and criminal threat.
“Such criminal plans should not be overlooked,” he said, emphasizing the need for accountability. “If planning the assassination of the president is that easy, how much more for ordinary citizens? I will fight back.”
Marcos criticized Duterte for escalating tensions instead of cooperating with a House investigation into the alleged misuse of confidential funds by the Office of the Vice President and the Department of Education.
“The truth should not be summarily executed,” he said, referencing the controversial drug war of former president Rodrigo Duterte, the vice president’s father.
“This conversation would have ended if only the sworn oath to tell the truth as a public servant would be fulfilled, and not be hindered,” Marcos added.
He stressed that the rule of law must prevail: “The law must prevail in any situation, no matter who is affected. I will not allow others’ intentions to drag the entire country into the mire of politics.”
The vice president, however, dismissed the criticism, claiming her statement was “maliciously taken out of logical context.” She previously admitted in October that her relationship with Marcos had grown so “toxic” that she sometimes imagined beheading him.
The AFP continues to grapple with challenges, including rumors of attempts to destabilize the government and the reactivation of its Counterintelligence Group earlier this year.
Despite these pressures, Brawner remains firm in the military’s commitment. “We are loyal to the Constitution, to our democratic institutions, and to the Filipino people,” he declared.
Meanwhile, the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) issued a subpoena to Duterte on November 26, in connection with her alleged threats against Marcos, his wife, and Romualdez.
The vice president has been ordered to appear before NBI Director Jaime Santiago at 9 am on November 29, to provide her explanation.
Photo credit: Inday Sara Duterte. Vice President Sara Duterte (left), President Ferdinand Marcos Jr (right).
