The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) on Tuesday dismissed allegations that elements within its ranks are being drawn into political interests, stressing its nonpartisan role under the Constitution.
The response followed public remarks by businessman and former Ilocos Sur governor Luis “Chavit” Singson, who warned that corruption had reached a level that he said demeans the military’s honor.
Singson alleged that some soldiers were being used to shield political actors and claimed that senior officers were allegedly given money to keep them quiet.
He also called on AFP Chief Gen. Romeo Brawner Jr. to openly oppose corruption, arguing that silence could be interpreted as consent.
In reaction, AFP spokesperson Col. Francel Margareth Padilla said the institution remains firmly guided by civilian supremacy as enshrined in the 1987 Constitution.
Padilla emphasized that the military operates strictly within the chain of command and confines its actions to its mandate as defender of the people and the State.
She said issues involving corruption, economic policy, or governance fall under civilian authorities and legal mechanisms, not the armed forces.
Padilla also warned against attempts to pull the AFP into partisan debates, urging the public to remain vigilant against narratives that could weaken national unity as the country faces external security challenges.