AFP upholds Constitution amid drug use allegation vs Marcos

The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) will continue to uphold the Constitution amid allegations that the commander-in-chief President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. was supposedly using illegal drugs, its official said Tuesday.

“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,” Philippine Navy’s Rear Admiral Roy Vincent Trinidad said in a press briefing.

“We do not engage in political disputes or allegations. These matters should be resolved through appropriate legal and institutional mechanisms and not public confrontation,” he added.

In a speech during the rally of Iglesia ni Cristo at the Quirino Grandstand in Manila on Monday, presidential sister Senator Imee Marcos accused the First Family of using illegal drugs.

On Tuesday, Presidential son and House Majority Leader, Ilocos Norte 1st District Representative Ferdinand Alexander "Sandro" Marcos denied the accusations levelled by his aunt.

The bigger picture

According to Trinidad, the AFP is currently focusing on humanitarian disaster response after the devastation caused by Tropical Cyclones Tino and Uwan, and addressing alleged efforts by the Chinese government to divide Filipinos.

“Amid all this political noise, the AFP is still heavily engaged in HDR operations all over the country,” Trinidad said. 

“And let us not forget the bigger picture. Huwag nating kalimutan meron tayong kapitbahay na nais ang mga Pilipino ay mag-away-away at ang Pilipinas ay mawatak-watak,” he added.

(And let us not forget the bigger picture. Let us not forget that we have a neighbor who wants Filipinos to fight each other and the Philippines to fall apart.)

‘Unusual support system’

According to Trinidad, the AFP has monitored an “unusual support system” for the recent rallies involving former military officials.

“We have noted that the support system was unusual when it comes to admin requirements or admin support given to the participants of the rally,” he said.

“And we are checking all possible leads especially when it comes to funding if these were done by domestic or maybe even for all we know foreign groups. We're checking all possible leads,” he added.

The United People’s Initiative (UPI), composed of retired military officials, staged a rally on Sunday and Monday at the People Power Monument in Quezon City. 

'The big country'

“Yung ating kapitbahay is 'yung malaking bansa (Our neighbor is the big country) being run by the Chinese Communist Party that will do everything under their means to sow discord within Philippine society,” Trinidad said. 

“United front works are very active in country. We have seen different issues, disinformation, misinformation, malinformation being raised against the government,” he added. 

Trinidad also noted incidents where foreign elements were trying to infiltrate the Philippines. 

“We have seen local chief executives being elected with dubious backgrounds. We have seen a lot of infiltration in our society. We don't have to look far,” he said.  

“Part of their rule book is to make us fight among ourselves. To infiltrate Philippine society and to destroy us from within. Let us not be distracted from the bigger picture. Ito ang mas pressing at mas nakakatakot (This is more pressing and concerning),” he added. 

Trinidad said the military noticed that the preparation for the rallies was “grand” including the equipment and food. 

“The way it was organized, the support system, the food and the other ancillary equipment or facilities needed, it was an organized, it was grand, ika nga grande ang preparasyon (it was a grand preparation). So we are checking this,” he said. 

“Without going to specific names or brands, you will be able to see based on the catering or the food provided. This will give us an indication of the support system or the funding of the activity,” he added. — RF/AOL, GMA Integrated News