By Priam Nepomuceno/Philippine News Agency
MANILA — The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) has yet to monitor any active-duty personnel who are planning to destabilize or overthrow the government, an official said on Thursday.
“Sa ngayon wala tayong namo-monitor na grupo na nasa aktibong serbisyo na pwede nating sabihin na merong planong magsagawa ng coup d etat or mag-destabilize ng ating pamahalaan (For now, we have not monitored any groups in the active service which we can say are plotting coup d etat or destabilize the government),” AFP spokesperson, Marine Brig. Gen. Edgard Arevalo, said in an interview over DZRH.
He said the military, under the leadership of AFP chief-of-staff General Benjamin Madrigal Jr., is a very mature and professional organization and has no reason to complain as the Duterte administration has supported the ongoing AFP Modernization Program aside from increasing the salaries and benefits of all military personnel.
“Wala po tayong nakikitang puwang upang magkaroon ng banta ng destabilization buhat sa AFP. But magka-ganun man, kung meron man tayo na mga kasamahan na nandyadyan na nagbubulungan o nagbabalakan, eh binabantaan po natin sila at pinapaalalahan na hindi sila magtatagumpay sapagkat hindi na po ito ang panahon ng mga ganyang pagkilos (We do not see any room for threats of destablization from the AFP. But in any case, if we have colleagues who are whispering and plotting, we are also threatening and reminding them that they will not succeed because this is not the time for such kind of actions),” Arevalo said.
“Premised on the absence of validated reports of active military personnel planning to mount a government take-over, this warning is nonetheless issued. If ever there are any AFP personnel contemplating to stage a coup ‘d etat, we warn them not to even make that losing proposition. We will never allow that,” he added.
Arevalo reiterated that the military remains firm in its commitment to its beholden duty to protect and defend the Constitution and take orders only from duly constituted authorities and the AFP chain of command.
“We pledge. We will prosecute vigorously and punish harshly anyone in the AFP who will violate the Articles of War, the AFP Code of Ethics, and the AFP core values of Honor, Service, and Patriotism. We assure our people of that resolve. We will throw the book at anyone who will transgress the immense thrust that the Filipino people repose on every soldier, airmen, sailors, and marines. We will do it to keep that faith,” Arevalo said.
Earlier, President Rodrigo Duterte said members of the military who no longer find him deserving to lead need not to stage a coup against him as he is willing to step down if asked over a cup of coffee.
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