AFP focused on relief efforts for earthquake-hit Mindanao; dismisses latest destab rumor

The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) on Sunday said it is focusing on delivering relief efforts to communities affected by the magnitude 7.8 earthquake in Mindanao, as it dismissed reports of a supposed destabilization plot against the Marcos administration anew.

“Within the ranks of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, we remain to be a professional organization. Nandiyan ang strict adherence natin sa Constitution. Ang loyalty natin ay nasa ating watawat,” AFP spokesperson Colonel Francel Margareth Padilla told Super Radyo dzBB.

(Within the ranks of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, we remain a professional organization. We strictly adhere to the Constitution, and our loyalty belongs to the flag and the nation.)

“Patuloy naming gagampanan ang aming misyon. Ang focus namin ay pagtulong sa ating mga kababayan lalo't mayroon tayong kinakaharap ngayon na nitong nakaraang lindol at 'yung patuloy nating pagbantay sa ating soberenya as we are being deployed in different areas, particularly in the West Philippine Sea,” she added.

(We will continue to carry out our mission. Our focus remains on helping our fellow Filipinos, especially since we recently experienced an earthquake, and in continuing to safeguard our sovereignty as we are being deployed in different areas, particularly in the West Philippine Sea.)

A recent rumor of a supposed destabilization plot came about days before the 128th Philippine Independence Day, which AFP chief of staff General Romeo Brawner Jr. dismissed, saying that they are investigating the matter.

Padilla also warned the public to discern posts online, especially artificial intelligence-related posts, and urged them to rely on official channels.

Based on its 6 a.m. Saturday report, the Office of Civil Defense said the reported death toll in the magnitude 7.8 earthquake has reached 61.

The number of missing persons went down to 33 while those injured numbered 1,221, as OCD continues to validate the reported casualties.

Search operations continue since many are still missing in Sarangani and Jose Abad Santos.

For the last three days, rescue personnel focused on Sarangani Island, Balut Island, Jose Abad Santos, all in Davao Occidental, and Glan in Sarangani Province.

The magnitude 7.8 earthquake hit offshore Maasim, Sarangani at 7:37 a.m. on June 8.

Almost 4,000 aftershocks have been recorded as of 9 a.m. on Friday.

A total of 173,000 families have been affected by the devastation caused by the Magnitude 7.8 earthquake that struck Southern Mindanao on June 8, the Office of Civil Defense (OCD) said Sunday.

On Saturday, the Department of Energy reported that the power supply of hospitals affected by the earthquake had been restored.

Meanwhile, Department of Health (DOH) spokesperson Albert Domingo said hospital operations in Mindanao continue after the earthquake.

Domingo reported that there is one non-functional rural health unit and two non-functional health stations, but these will be addressed in the next few days.

DOH also deployed two Philippine Emergency Medical Assistance Teams (PEMAT) from the Cotabato Regional Medical Center and the Southern Philippines Medical Center to aid medical personnel in Sarangani. —RF, GMA News