Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. on Thursday warned some groups urging the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) to withdraw support from the government of acting as “sellouts to China,” saying their agenda would weaken the country and force it to bend to Beijing’s aggression in the West Philippine Sea.

In a radio interview over dzRH, Teodoro said the AFP continues to enjoy high trust among Filipinos due to its professional and consistent stance on national issues—particularly its opposition to China’s incursions.

“Marami na rin na naghihikayat na kumilos ng mag-isa ang Armed Forces of the Philippines na makialam dito (There are also many who are encouraging the Armed Forces of the Philippines to act on its own and intervene in this matter),” he stressed. 

“Hindi po gagawin ito at hindi po natin nanaisin kung ito ang mangyari kasi mas makakahina sa ating pag mature bilang isang bansa at maraming gumagamit sa constitutional provision na the Armed Forces is the protector of the people and the state (This will not happen, and we do not want it to happen, because it would weaken our progress as a maturing nation. Many are also misusing the constitutional provision that the Armed Forces is the protector of the people and the state),” added.

He also criticized politicians who publicly condemn the Communist Party of the Philippines and its armed wings, the New People’s Army and National Democratic Front, yet maintain friendly ties with the Chinese Communist Party.

“Kaya nga nagtataka ako doon sa ibang mga pulitiko na banat ng banat sa CPP-NPA-NDF sa  kanang kamay sa kaliwang kamay naman nakikipag-ugnayan sila na may mga agreement pa sa communist, Chinese communist party (That’s why I’m puzzled by some politicians who keep attacking the CPP-NPA-NDF with their right hand, yet with their left hand they are engaging with—and even entering into agreements with—the Chinese Communist Party),” Teodoro said. 

Foreign Influence?

Teodoro’s remarks come days after acting AFP spokesperson Rear Adm. Roy Vincent Trinidad expressed suspicion that the United People’s Initiative (UPI) protest at the EDSA People Power Monument may have received foreign funding.

The UPI has called on President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to resign—while denying involvement in destabilization plots—but one of its speakers publicly urged the military to withdraw support from the administration.

Officials have repeatedly warned of attempts by China’s United Front Work Department (UFWD) to influence political and elite sectors abroad. This concern emerges as Beijing continues its aggressive moves to assert its sweeping South China Sea claims which was invalidated by the 2016 arbitral ruling favoring Manila.

Further, Teodoro acknowledged that active destabilization attempts exist, saying political turmoil naturally invites foreign or local actors who would exploit “open wounds” in governance.

“Meron talaga kasi ang active destabilization gagana iyan kapag binigyan ng political issue. Kumbaga sugat ito, binigyan mo ng sugat ang  mikrobyo e talagang ano iyan, talagang sasakyan yung sugat (There really are such efforts, because active destabilization works when it is given a political issue to latch onto. It’s like a wound—if you give the germ a wound, it will naturally take advantage of it),” he said. 

“Hindi ko maaring sabihin meron mga mino-monitor diyan pero natural may mga pulitiko na talagang humihikayat naman talaga sa mga kasundaluhan. Hinding- hindi maipagkakaila iyan (I cannot say there are indeed being monitored. And naturally, there are politicians who are really encouraging members of the military. That cannot be denied),” he pointed out. 

But he stressed that any attempt to draw the AFP into partisan conflicts will fail.

“Dito naman sa Sandatahang Lakas makasisigurado ang ating mga kababayan na ang ating sundalo ay professional. Hindi ito kailangan pangaralan. Alam nila ang kanilang misyon. Sila ay mapagkakatiwalaan (When it comes to the Armed Forces, our people can be assured that our soldiers are professional. They do not need to be lectured. They know their mission. They can be trusted),” Teodoro emphasized. 

He then pointed out that the Constitution only permits military intervention under civilian authority, such as through court orders, police deputization, or a presidential declaration of martial law—subject to congressional review within 48 hours.

“Walang nakalagay sa constitution na pwedeng makialam ang Sandatahang Lakas (No portion of the Constitution allows the AFP to interfere in political matters,” he said. 

“Kung ito ang intensyon ng mga sumulat ng Saligang Batas, e sinabi sana nila (If that were the intention, the framers would have said so),” he added.

Teodoro assured anew the public that the military will not be swayed by political agitation. He reaffirmed that the AFP’s high trust rating reflects its refusal to be used for political ends.

“Nasabi ko nga mataas ang trust rating kung sana e ang tingin ng taong bayan na ang Armed Forces ay isang gamit upang mapanatili ang hindi kanais-nais na sitwasyon e sana bumagsak ito ng katudotodo at hindi ka paniniwala (As I’ve said, the Armed Forces has a high trust rating. If the public believed that the AFP was being used to preserve an undesirable situation, that trust rating would have collapsed completely and people would no longer believe in it),” he said.