The Armed Forces of the Philippines has denied reports of destabilization plots within their military organization.
This came hours after Gen. Andres Centino reclaimed his position as AFP Chief of Staff, replacing Lt. Gen. Bartolome Vicente Bacarro, on Saturday morning, 7 January.
Rumors have also circulated about the alleged mass resignation of officials of the Department of National Defense.
But Col. Jorry Baclor, chief of the AFP public information office, said the security situation at Camp Aguinaldo remained “normal”.
“I have just gotten out of Camp Aguinaldo and it’s normal,” he said.
AFP spokesperson Col. Medel Aguilar likewise denied the destabilization rumors.
“Negative. Everything is normal,” he said.
AFP Visayas Command 3rd ID Commander MGen. Benedict Arevalo gave the same assurance that “everything is normal” within their ranks.
“We are focused on our current mission, that is to run after the remaining NPAs and ensure to continue weakening them in terms of their membership, firearms, and mass support,” Arevalo said.
“Our troops will remain loyal to our oath and to the chain of command. The AFP in the Visayas will remain professional and dedicated to the service of our country and people,” he added.
Meanwhile, the DND has yet to issue a statement on the matter.
The resignation rumors were rooted in a photo of a memorandum order, supposedly from the Philippine National Police in Caraga (Region 13), which stated that the entire police organization has been placed on full alert status “in view of the resignation of all Department of National Defense (DND) personnel in Camp Aguinaldo.”
PNP spokesperson Jean Fajardo clarified that policemen are on heightened alert as part of preparations for the Nazareno 2023, “not because of the reports on destabilization plot in the AFP.”
Camp Aguinaldo, which houses the DND building, is situated adjacent to the PNP National Headquarters at Camp Crame in Quezon City.
Centino was the AFP Chief of Staff from November 2021 to August 2022 during the administration of former President Rodrigo Duterte. He was supposed to retire this February.
Bacarro was appointed by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on 8 August, replacing Centino.
But, after Bacarro had served only five months, Marcos reappointed Centino as AFP chief on 6 January.
Philippine Army Commanding General Lt. Gen. Romeo Brawner Jr. said the military will respect Marcos’ decision to reappoint Centino.
“The army is a professional organization. We will always respect the decision of our Commander-in-chief,” he said.
“We are focused on our current mission that is to run after the remaining NPAs and ensure to continue weakening them in terms of their membership, firearms, and mass support,” Arevalo said.