Foreign-funded destab efforts are treasonous, says Palace

Malacañang on Thursday warned that foreign-funded efforts to destabilize the Marcos administration, if proven true, could be considered an act of treason against the Philippines.

In a press briefing, Presidential Communications Undersecretary and Palace Press Officer, Atty. Claire Castro noted that the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) is continuously coordinating with the Philippine National Police (PNP) to monitor if there are destabilization activities that may have foreign funding.

“Kung ito man ay may katotohanan, kapwa Pilipino, kung again, kung may katotohanan at makikita po sa kanilang pag-iimbestiga na foreign-funded itong kanilang isinasagawang rally, masasabi po nating ito ay pagtataksil sa bayan (If this is indeed true, fellow Filipinos, if—again, if it is true and their investigation shows that the rallies being held are foreign-funded, we can say that this is an act of treason against the nation),” Castro lamented.

She added that foreign interference in Philippine politics is inappropriate.

“At hindi po nararapat ito na pinanghihimasukan tayo ng ibang bansa. Ang politika natin ay mukhang pinanghihimasukan na ng ibang bansa, so, hindi po maganda (And it is not appropriate for other countries to interfere with us. Our politics seems to be getting meddled with by other nations, which is not good).”

Castro likewise expressed hope that such activities would cease if they were indeed financed by other countries.

“Sana hindi po lumalim pa ang ganitong klaseng mga aktibidad kung nagpopondo lang naman din po ay ibang bansa (I hope this kind of activity does not escalate further if it is being funded by other countries),” she said.

“We hope this kind of activity will not escalate if it is being funded by foreign entities,” she said.

When further asked if President Marcos, as Commander-in-Chief, had issued any directive on the matter, Castro reiterated that the AFP is closely checking the situation and investigating any activities that may harm national interests.

“Still, ganoon pa rin po kung ano po ang hindi dapat sa bansa o kung nasisira po ang interes ng bansa dapat pong mas imbestigahan po. Pero sa ngayon po ay chini-check naman po ito, continuously looking on this matter ang AFP (Still, anything that should not happen in the country, or anything that harms the national interest, should be further investigated. But for now, this is being checked. But AFP is continuously monitoring this matter,” she said.

Earlier this week, AFP spokesperson Col. Francel Margareth Padilla denied claims about the existence of an alleged plot to destabilize the Marcos administration, saying there are no signs of unrest within the military.

“We will verify all of these reports. We affirm that the Armed Forces of the Philippines is whole. We are united, we remain professional, and our allegiance is to the Constitution and to the flag," Padilla told reporters at Camp Aguinaldo.

Padilla’s statement came after Malacañang announced that the AFP had begun investigating a list of individuals allegedly seeking to destabilize the administration, which was circulated on social media by journalist Ramon Tulfo.

The list claims that Vice President Sara Duterte, Davao Rep. Paolo Duterte, and former Ilocos Sur Governor Chavit Singson were funding the supposed plot.

Meanwhile, Castro said the AFP has received the list for monitoring and possible investigation, even though it originated on social media.

“According to the AFP, in cases like this, although it is on social media, it is being forwarded to their intelligence community,” Castro said.

She emphasized that while freedom of expression is recognized, claims like these require careful scrutiny to determine their scope and legality.

“The AFP said this is being monitored… It really needs to be investigated,” Castro added.

Further, Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. dismissed reports that former military officials were involved in an alleged destabilization plot against the Marcos administration.

“That’s really a function of information operations. There will be all these agitations. We have to learn to live with it and ignore it,” Teodoro said.

He noted that only a few individuals were named and emphasized that they do not represent the majority of retired officials.

“How many are they? Actually, there are very few ... they do not speak for retired officials. That's why even naming them as speaking for retired officials is unfair to the majority of retired officials,” he said.

Teodoro warned against glorifying these individuals.

“This is not the vast majority of retired officials. Let’s not put them in a place where they shouldn’t be regarded by the public.”

He also expressed frustration at the distraction caused by such reports.

“I really don’t like to talk about these things because there’s nothing happening here and it distracts from our work,” he said.

In a separate ambush interview, AFP Chief Gen. Romero Brawner Jr. said the military is investigating whether any active members were involved.

“Sa ngayon ay hindi pa po nagre-report sa akin ang intelligence community, but they are already doing their investigation, especially doon po sa mga active members ng AFP (As of now, the intelligence community has not yet reported to me, but they are already conducting their investigation, especially concerning the active members of the AFP),” Brawner pointed out.

He added that the investigation is focused on one active member listed in the circulating reports.

“That is what we are really looking at because we want to make sure that no active member of the Armed Forces is involved in any of these non-constitutional activities,” Brawner added.