Army officer relieved over support withdrawal for Marcos

A case of Noli Me Tangere or “touch me not,” or keeping men in uniform apolitical?

The Philippine Army on Friday confirmed the relief of a senior officer for allegedly withdrawing his support for President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.

The probe of the officer, Col. Audie A. Mongao, has raised questions about discipline, political neutrality, and the boundaries of speech within the military.

Mongao was removed from his post Thursday evening and placed under administrative and operational status while under investigation, Army spokesperson Colonel Louie Dema-ala confirmed.

The move followed the circulation of a screenshot on social media showing a message attributed to Mongao, in which he appeared to express personal political views critical of the President. The post went viral earlier this week.

Dema-ala said the Army took note of the remarks, stressing that while freedom of expression is protected under the Constitution, members of the Armed Forces are subject to stricter standards of conduct.

The Army confirmed the authenticity of the message but said key details remained unclear, including how and when it was made.

The screenshot, first shared publicly by retired Air Force General Romeo Poquiz, suggested the message appeared in a comment thread or group chat rather than as a standalone post.

The timestamp indicated it was sent on Friday, one day after Mongao had already been relieved.

Poquiz connection

Maj. Gen. Michael Logico, commander of the Army Training Command and Mongao’s immediate superior, said in a Facebook post that an investigation is underway to determine possible administrative and legal liabilities.

Logico added that Mongao was on New Year’s break at the time the alleged statement circulated and that attempts to contact him had so far failed.

Poquiz was arrested earlier this week at Ninoy Aquino International Airport in connection with an incitement to sedition case.

Authorities have not publicly linked Mongao to that case of Poquiz, but the timing and overlap of events have fueled speculation online.

The Army said it continues to recognize Marcos as the duly constituted Commander-in-Chief and denied that the incident reflects broader unrest within the ranks.

The episode comes amid a sensitive political backdrop.

In his 2025 State of the Nation Address, Marcos himself acknowledged large-scale corruption linked to flood control projects.