Defence Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jnr and Armed Forces of the Philippines chief of staff General Romeo Brawner Jnr issued a joint statement on Saturday espousing “national unity and upholding the Constitution amid calls for withdrawal of support” of the Philippine armed forces.
“We reject all attempts to patronise the armed forces by certain groups that insinuate or suggest unconstitutional, unilateral interventions by the [armed forces],” they said, calling such moves “futile” without identifying any groups or individuals.
Teodoro and Brawner warned that “at this critical juncture for our national security in the face of threats to our peace and regional stability, politically motivated attempts to distract the armed forces from focusing on their mission are not only futile but also irresponsible”.
They assured that the defence department and the armed forces were “fully committed” to upholding the 1987 Constitution and the military “abides” by it through the chain of command and “our mandate to the Filipino people” as professional and non-partisan institutions.
