THE Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) on Thursday dismissed reports claiming numerous personnel have resigned to show support for former president Rodrigo Duterte following his arrest.
These reports, circulating primarily on social media, have been labeled as unverified by the AFP.
In a statement, AFP spokesperson Colonel Francel Margareth Padilla urged the public to practice critical thinking and avoid spreading unconfirmed information.
“The AFP clarifies that reports of AFP personnel resigning in support of former President Duterte remain unverified,” she stated. Colonel Padilla emphasized the AFP’s commitment to its constitutional mandate, remaining a “professional, unified, and non-partisan institution” focused on defending the nation and serving the Filipino people.
Echoing this sentiment, Philippine Army spokesperson Colonel Louie Dema-ala confirmed that the Army has not received any reports of personnel resigning.
He directly addressed the social media rumors, stating, “If our only basis is social media, we definitely can’t believe that.
But currently, we have not received any report of actual Philippine Army soldiers resigning.” Colonel Dema-ala highlighted the high morale and continued focus on their mandate among Army personnel, adding, “No need for a loyalty check. Our Army remains professional and focused only on its mandate.”
The AFP’s strong denial aims to quell any speculation of internal division within the ranks and reaffirm its commitment to upholding the rule of law.
The dismissal of these unverified reports underscores the importance of verifying information from reliable sources before sharing it, particularly on social media, where misinformation can spread rapidly.
