The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) on Wednesday denied issuing any guidance that would limit civilians and families of military personnel from expressing political views on social media.
“The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) has not issued any guidance restricting the freedom of expression of civilians, including the families of military personnel, on social media,” the military said in a statement.
This comes after a social media post claimed that a purported memo was released by the organization, reminding soldiers and their families to avoid posting or commenting on social media about current political matters.
The AFP also clarified that recent visits made by AFP chief General Romeo Brawner Jr. “were focused on reinforcing the importance of professionalism, discipline, and mission focus among our personnel.”
“These internal engagements are vital for strengthening the AFP’s core values and operational effectiveness,” it further said.
Earlier, reports surfaced that a purported memorandum, dated 17 March 2025, circulated on social media allegedly from the Philippine Army’s 10th Infantry Division which claimed that Brawner had ordered unit commanders and office chiefs to remind their personnel and their families to “avoid unnecessary posting/commenting on social media regarding the current political situation and just focus on their respective job/task/mission.”
In response to the alleged memo, a statement from a purported family member of Army personnel, calling themselves the Army Ladies Club, was also circulated online.
The group asserted their right to freedom of expression.
“Most of us are not civil servants, which makes us civilians outside the chain of command,” it said.
In response to the group, Colonel Xerxes Trinidad, AFP Public Affairs chief, said the military organization has not issued “guidance or restriction” preventing civilians from expressing their views on social media.
He then highlighted the importance of responsible online engagement.
“With the rise of disinformation, we encourage both our troops and the public to be discerning in their social media activities to avoid being misled or unintentionally spreading false information,” Trinidad told the Daily Tribune in a Viber message.
Trinidad said the AFP reaffirms its “commitment to upholding the freedom of expression of all citizens, including civilians associated with the military.”
“Our focus remains on reinforcing professionalism and discipline within the ranks and ensuring that both our personnel and the broader community are equipped to responsibly engage on online platforms,” he added.
Meanwhile, Colonel Louie Dema-ala, Army spokesperson, stressed the importance of staying focused on their primary duty of safeguarding the nation’s sovereignty, without getting involved in political conflicts or partisan issues.