MANILA – The three major services of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) said Thursday they have not received any verified report on military personnel allegedly resigning from their posts following the arrest and subsequent transfer of former president Rodrigo Duterte to The Hague, The Netherlands on March 11.
In an interview, Philippine Army (PA) spokesperson Col. Louie Dema-ala said there are no reports that soldiers from their units have resigned despite claims posted on social media.
"We have not received any report na yung mga sundalo nagre-resign. Kung social media lang yang basis natin definitely, di natin mapaniwalaan yan (that soldiers are resigning. If social media is the only basis, definitely, we can't just believe that)," Dema-ala told reporters.
He noted that troop morale is high as the Army is a “professional organization and focused on its mandate.”
Dema-ala added that the PA remains intact and there is no need for a loyalty check.
The sentiment was echoed by the Philippine Navy (PN), which stressed that it is a professional organization that adheres to the chain of command.
PN spokesperson Capt. John Percie Alcos said the Navy remains steadfast in its duty to ensure national security and stability.
"The PN assures all Filipinos that we uphold the highest standard of professionalism. Every sailor and marine will remain loyal to the Constitution and to the oath that we took to serve the country and the Filipino people.”
Meanwhile, the Philippine Air Force (PAF) also said they have not monitored any unrest or personnel resignation.
In a message to reporters, PAF spokesperson Col. Ma. Consuelo Castillo said the Air Force remains a professional organization focused on performing its mandate of protecting the state and the people.
"We have not monitored any unrest nor noted any personnel resignations, and our airmen remain alert and ready to perform their duty to maintain peace and security," she said.
The statements of the major services were affirmed by AFP spokesperson Col. Francel Margareth Padilla, who clarified that reports of AFP personnel resigning in support of former president Duterte “remain unverified.”
“We urge everyone to exercise critical discernment and avoid spreading unconfirmed information," she said.
Padilla also maintained that the AFP remains a professional, unified, and non-partisan institution, committed to its constitutional mandate of defending the nation and serving the Filipino people.
"Our personnel continue to remain focused on our sworn duty, upholding the rule of law and the chain of command," she said. (PNA)