Divisions within the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) are far-fetched, despite the stir created by the relief of Philippine Army Col. Audie Mongao for withdrawing his support from his Commander-in-Chief, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., AFP spokesperson Col. Francel Margareth Padilla said yesterday.

Thus, there are no plans to conduct loyalty checks among the troops, she added.

Mongao was discharged from his command of the AFP Training Support Group after he posted on social media his rejection of Marcos, saying, “It’s too much, enough already.”

The AFP said it was too early to discuss possible charges against Mongao.

At a press briefing, Padilla emphasized that the investigation into Mongao’s case was still ongoing.

“With the case of Colonel Audie Mongao, it is currently under investigation. The inquiry is ongoing as of this time, and because of that, it is premature to state any specific charges that will be filed as of now,” Padilla said.

“But definitely, the investigation will ensue, and we are assuring the public that due process will be accorded to the party. The AFP will conduct this in relation to existing rules and policies that are in place,” she added.

Professional, united soldiers

“We remain professional, and we remain united,” she stressed, adding that monitoring of the situation was ongoing.

“Our commanders are very well-versed on the situation on the ground, and that is the trust that our Chief of Staff has in our ground commanders. So, there is no need for any loyalty checks,” Padilla said.

She emphasized that while every soldier is entitled to their own opinion, taking an oath to the AFP requires strict adherence to its rules and regulations.

“Each soldier down to the lowest rank knows about this, and we abide by the rules and regulations set forth by the Armed Forces of the Philippines,” she said.

Maj. Gen. Michael Logico, commander of the Training Command, said Mongao has since voluntarily returned to military control and is cooperating fully with the investigation.

Meanwhile, Mongao received backing from the United People’s Initiative, a group calling for President Marcos’ resignation.

In a statement, the group said, “His words were not rebellion. They were faithful to the Constitution. In reaffirming his loyalty to the AFP and the State, while withdrawing personal support from President Marcos Jr., Colonel Mongao reminded the nation of a truth too many fear to say: moral ascendancy matters; leadership is not inherited, it is earned daily; the Armed Forces serve the people, not personalities.”