The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) has denied rumors of a supposed coup against President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. amid controversy surrounding alleged anomalous flood control projects, which sparked massive protests on Sunday, September 21.
In a statement, the AFP dismissed the reports as malicious and baseless, emphasizing that the military does not side with any politician and remains committed to the Constitution, the Republic, and the Filipino people.
“The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) rejects malicious narratives about supposed plans to unseat the President or launch destabilization efforts. These claims are baseless, unfounded and far removed from reality,” the AFP said.
The military further stressed: “Our loyalty does not rest on politics or personalities, but firmly on the Constitution, the Republic and the Filipino people.”
In his Philippine Daily Inquirer column on September 23, two days after the protests, AFP Chief of Staff Gen. Romeo Brawner Jr. admitted that the demonstrations tested the resilience and loyalty of the military to the current administration.
“I heard the chants, saw the passion in people’s eyes and felt the same fury burn in the hearts of our soldiers. Corruption enrages us all… it cuts deeper for the soldier who risks life and limb for the country,” Brawner wrote.
The AFP’s statement came in the wake of allegations that Defense Secretary Gibo Teodoro and Brawner were working with the United States’ Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) to oust President Marcos Jr.