AFP commanders vow to stay non-partisan amid calls to withdraw support from Marcos
MANILA, Philippines — Six military commanders have issued separate statements as of Thursday, November 20, pledging their forces will stay loyal to the Constitution and won't intervene in politics — remarks that come amid persistent calls for the Armed Forces of the Philippines to withdraw support from President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.
The commanders of Northern Luzon Command, Southern Luzon Command, Visayas Command, Western Command, Western Mindanao Command, and the National Capital Region Command all released separate statements supporting AFP chief General Romeo Brawner Jr.'s position that the military remains non-partisan and bound to the Constitution.
The statements were issued by Gen. Gregorio Hernandez Jr. of NCRCOM, Lt. Gen. Aristotle Gonzalez of NOLCOM, Lt. Gen. Cerilo Balaoro Jr. of SOLCOM, Lt. Gen. Fernando Reyeg of VISCOM, Vice Adm. Alfonso Torres Jr. of WESCOM and Maj. Gen. Donald Gumiran of WESTMINCOM.
The coordinated release of the statements comes more than a week before the November 30 anti-corruption protests led by civil society groups and Church leaders, timed to coincide with Bonifacio Day. The demonstrations are seen as a follow-up to the large September 21 rallies that pressed the Marcos administration to prosecute officials tied to irregular flood control projects.
Over the weekend, retired generals joined thousands of protesters in Metro Manila, rallying alongside members of Iglesia ni Cristo and Duterte loyalists. The crowds carried calls for President Marcos to resign over the flood control scandal, though INC organizers sought to distance themselves from those demands — largely pushed by Duterte supporters who have echoed Vice President Sara Duterte’s recent claim that Marcos is facing a crisis of public confidence.
In October, Brawner disclosed that retired Air Force Maj. Gen. Romeo Poquiz and several other former officers approached him in September — before the mass protests — urging the military to abandon Marcos through a coup or withdrawal of support. Brawner said he rejected the proposal and informed Marcos of the recruitment effort. The AFP later said it was considering whether to revoke the pensions of retired officers who make seditious statements, though it eventually denied making this statement.
Gonzalez of Northern Luzon Command said his troops "remain non-partisan, loyal to duly constituted authority, and focused on their mandate to safeguard peace and stability across the region."
Hernandez of the NCR Command said the AFP is a "professional, disciplined force" solely focused on the "defense of the Republic and its democratic institutions." He also called on protest organizers and participants to "uphold their commitment to peaceful conduct and discipline" and warned that cooperation is "the most effective safeguard against those who might seek to infiltrate these events and exploit them for unlawful or divisive purposes."
Balaoro of Southern Luzon Command released a statement in Filipino affirming support for the Constitution and urging citizens to express themselves freely but peacefully.
Reyeg of Visayas Command also released a similar statement and tied the military's message to ongoing recovery from typhoons Tino and Uwan.
Gumiran of Western Mindanao Command similarly stressed unity while communities continue to rebuild from recent disasters.
While upcoming protests may take place outside Western Mindanao, the command "remains fully aligned with the AFP's unified approach and stands ready to support security efforts within our area of responsibility, should events be held here," Gumiran said.
Torres of Western Command called on the public to "exercise rights responsibly and peacefully, with respect for the rights of others" and to seek "non-violent avenues for redress, and cultivate a culture of mutual respect."
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