AFP stresses non-partisanship as Marcos faces allegations
MANILA, Philippines — Speculation has circulated about attempts to draw the Philippine Army away from President Bongbong Marcos, but the military has reiterated its support for their commander-in-chief despite allegations of corruption and drug use.
Speaking at a press conference on Tuesday, November 18, Armed Forces of the Philippines acting spokesperson Rear Adm. Roy Trinidad reaffirmed the military’s non-partisanship amid the country’s political turmoil, saying it remains focused on humanitarian assistance and disaster response operations.
"Yes, the AFP remains a professional, disciplined and non-partisan institution committed to upholding the Constitution, constitutional processes and safeguarding the nation's peace and security. We do not engage in political disputes or allegations," he said.
Marcos has become the target of corruption and illegal drug use allegations in just a matter of days, following former Rep. Elizaldy Co’s claim that the president instructed him to insert P100 billion into the 2025 budget.
Meanwhile, it was the president’s own sister, Sen. Imee Marcos, who sought to cast herself as a "whistleblower" by publicly alleging that she had long witnessed her brother’s supposed drug addiction.
The accusations surfaced just as members of the Iglesia Ni Cristo, who endorsed Marcos in the 2022 elections through a bloc vote, held an anti-corruption protest to call for transparency and accountability.
"These matters should be resolved through appropriate legal and institutional mechanisms and not public confrontation," Trinidad said.
"Amid all this political noise, the AFP is still heavily engaged in HDR (human disaster response) operations all over the country. Manay, Bogo, Talisay, Dipaculao, Central Luzon and many other areas," he added.
The AFP acting spokesperson also cautioned that the Philippines is confronting ongoing maritime disputes with a neighboring country that, he said, stands to gain from sowing division among Filipinos — a remark seemingly alluding to China’s actions over the West Philippine Sea.
"Let us not forget that we have a neighbor who wants Filipinos to fight among themselves and for the Philippines to become divided," Trinidad said.
"When you have one AFP, you have one Philippines. When you have a strong AFP, you have a strong Philippines," he added.
Since the government launched a full-scale investigation into the anomalous flood control projects, claims have surfaced of alleged plots to destabilize the Marcos administration. The AFP has dismissed these narratives as "malicious" and "baseless," stressing that its loyalty lies with the Constitution and the Filipino people — not politics.
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