No need to probe AFP on alleged destabilization plot, says spox

There is no need to investigate the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) over the issue of an alleged destabilization plot in the military, its spokesperson Colonel Medel Aguilar said Wednesday. 

In an ANC interview, Aguilar was asked if there is an ongoing investigation regarding the destabilization allegations to see if there are factions within the AFP.

“There’s no need for an investigation inside the Armed Forces of the Philippines because even after or during the change of command ceremony, we did not even raise our alert level. We maintained the alert level because everything was normal within the organization,” he answered.

“We know that officers come and go, and therefore, we have to follow the chain of command always to make sure that the organization is united and that we are able to perform our mandate and our mission,” he added.

Aguilar said he has no idea where the destabilization rumors were coming from as the AFP is currently focused on its mission.

He, however, admitted that he cannot speak for the individual views or emotions of each member of AFP.

Both the AFP and the Philippine National Police (PNP) earlier denied the alleged destabilization plot in the military which circulated on social media over the weekend.

These rumors floated after the supposed resignations in the Department of National Defense (DND). However, the PNP said its heightened police alert was only for the activities related to the Feast of the Black Nazarene.

On Monday, President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. named Presidential Adviser on Peace, Reconciliation, and Unity Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr. as the secretary of the DND after its officer-in-charge, Senior Undersecretary Jose Faustino Jr., resigned.

Marcos also recently appointed General Andres Centino back as AFP chief, replacing his previous appointee, Lieutenant General Bartolome Bacarro, who only served for almost five months.

With this, Aguilar maintained that nothing is irregular in the changes in AFP leadership and that they respect and support the decision of Marcos who is the commander-in-chief.

“It is not irregular in the sense that it is within the bounds of the law. Meaning, the President just exercised his authority and power to designate his chief of staff, being the commander-in-chief of the Armed Forces of the Philippines,” he said.

PNP said on Tuesday its Anti-Cybercrime Group (ACG) has already identified the sources of a supposed memorandum claiming the police force was on high alert amid rumors of a destabilization plot. —KG, GMA Integrated News