By Filane Mikee Cervantes
MANILA – Malacañang on Friday said there is no need for a loyalty check among members of the police and military.
In a Palace press briefing, Presidential Communications Office (PCO) Undersecretary Claire Castro said President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. remains confident in the Philippine National Police (PNP) and the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) amid rumors of resignations following the arrest of former president Rodrigo Duterte over crimes against humanity charges.
“Loyalty check? Wala po dahil kampante po ang Pangulo na ang ginawa naman po ng administrasyon ay naaayon sa batas (Loyalty check? There’s none, because the President is confident that the administration’s actions are in accordance with the law),” Castro said.
Citing PNP spokesperson Brig. Gen. Jean Fajardo’s recent remarks, Castro denied reports that police officers resigned in support of Duterte.
“Ayon po kay General Fajardo, wala pong katotohanan na may nag-resign kung ito po ay may kaugnayan sa pagpapasurrender ng gobyerno kay dating Pangulong Duterte sa ICC through the Interpol. Wala pong nagre-resign ayon po kay General Fajardo (According to General Fajardo, there is no truth to the reports that anyone resigned in connection with the government’s alleged plan to surrender former President Duterte to the ICC through Interpol. No one is resigning, according to General Fajardo),” Castro said.
The AFP also denied reports of resignations among military personnel following Duterte’s arrest and transfer to The Hague on March 11.
Philippine Army (PA) spokesperson Col. Louie Dema-ala said there have been no verified reports of resignations despite claims on social media.
“We have not received any report na yung mga sundalo nagre-resign. Kung social media lang yang basis natin, definitely, di natin mapaniwalaan yan (We have not received any report that soldiers are resigning. If social media is the only basis, definitely, we can’t just believe that),” Dema-ala said.
Dema-ala said troops’ morale remains high and the Army remains a “professional organization focused on its mandate.”
The Philippine Navy and Air Force also denied unrest or resignations.
AFP spokesperson Col. Francel Margareth Padilla said the reports remain unverified.
“We urge everyone to exercise critical discernment and avoid spreading unconfirmed information,” Padilla said.
“Our personnel continue to remain focused on our sworn duty, upholding the rule of law and the chain of command,” she added.
Castro accused some groups of spreading misinformation to generate public sympathy for Duterte.
“Marami pong nagpapakalat ng iba’t ibang kwento na wala pong katotohanan (Many are spreading different stories that are not true),” Castro said.
“Sa atin pong paningin, ang pagkakalat po ng mga ganitong klaseng kwento ay para po mas lumakiang simpatya sa dating pangulong Duterte (In our view, the spread of such stories is intended to increase sympathy for former President Duterte),” she added.
In the wake of Duterte’s arrest, Castro called for a balanced perspective on the issue, urging the public to consider both sides of the story, especially the alleged victims of extrajudicial killings (EJKs) during Duterte’s administration.
“Sana po imulat niyo ang inyong mga mata, tignan niyo po kung ano talaga ang katotohanan. ‘Wag natin iiwan ‘yung isyu ng extrajudicial killings. Meron pong mga namatay, meron pong mga nagrereklamo (We hope you open your eyes and see the truth. Let’s not ignore the issue of extrajudicial killings. There were deaths, and there are people complaining),” she said.
The International Criminal Court (ICC) is investigating Duterte’s drug war, which human rights groups say resulted in thousands of deaths.
Duterte is currently at the ICC detention center and is set to make his initial appearance before the international court at 9 p.m. (Manila time) on Friday. (PNA)
