AFP eyes revoking pensions over seditious statements

MANILA, Philippines — Retired officials and personnel of the Armed Forces of the Philippines found spreading false information against the military or inciting soldiers to rebel against the Marcos administration are at risk of losing their monthly pension.

Col. Francel Margareth Padilla, AFP spokesperson, said withholding pension is among the possible sanctions the military may impose on retired officers who have been making seditious or false information against the government. Another possibility is subjecting them to court martial proceedings even if the retirees are already civilians.

“They’re categorized as civilians and they’re receiving pension, so we’ll see how this will fall into play,” Padilla said at the Saturday News Forum in Quezon City.

Padilla said they have been monitoring some retired military officers who have amplified their attacks in their social media accounts against the President after he exposed anomalies in flood control projects of the Department of Public Works and Highways.

Rear Admiral Roy Vincent Trinidad of the Philippine Navy said one of the officials has the rank of major general. He declined to name the official.

For Trinidad, retired military officials should propose solutions to national problems and not agitate active members.

The AFP is eyeing criminal cases against retired officers spreading falsehoods on social media, for violation of cybercrime laws, Trinidad said.