Foreign-backed quarters ‘parroting’ military politicking rumors — DND

The Department of National Defense (DND) on Monday reaffirmed the Armed Forces of the Philippines’ (AFP) commitment to remain non-partisan following reports of alleged rumors about military intervention in politics.

DND spokesperson Assistant Secretary Arsenio Andolong warned that “foreign-backed quarters” were spreading false narratives about potential military involvement in political shake-ups.

“Foreign-backed quarters are parroting rumors of military intervention for their own benefit in an attempt to subvert our constitutional processes and hijack the people’s call for accountability and transparency for their personal political agenda,” Andolong said in a statement.

He noted that these rumors are aimed at “subverting constitutional processes” and exploiting the public’s demand for transparency for personal political gain.

“The public’s clear rejection of any form of military intervention in politics underscores a mature democracy and validates the AFP’s steadfast commitment to remain non-partisan and focused on defending the nation,” he stressed.

The department cited a recent survey that found 70 percent of respondents oppose military intervention in politics, while only 5 percent support it. The remaining 22 percent were undecided.

The DND official added that the AFP’s strength lies in its discipline, service, and allegiance to the Constitution and the Filipino people, emphasizing that only “enemies of the state wish us to fail.”

“The DND echoes the AFP’s clarion call — a strong AFP for a strong Philippines,” he said. “Only enemies of the state wish us to fail.”

On Sunday, the AFP reaffirmed its commitment to remain apolitical, noting that it “gets the message” from the recent survey showing overwhelming public opposition to military intervention in politics.

“The AFP notes the survey — and we get the message. Filipinos want their Armed Forces focused on service, not sides. And that’s exactly where we stand,” AFP spokesperson Col. Francel Margareth Padilla said, emphasizing that the military remains focused solely on its constitutional mandate.