Army denies online rumour of troops ‘withdrawing support’ for Duterte

army
President Duterte during a visit to the war-ravaged city of Mindanao after jihadists had seized control of the city, holding it under a six-month siege.

The Armed Forces of the Philippines has denied rumours circulating on social media that a military command had withdrawn support from President Duterte.

Speaking today (Friday, March 11), army spokesman Colonel Edgard Arevalo said: “Your AFP shall and will remain united and steadfast following duly constituted authority and under the Chain-of-Command with the President and Commander-in-Chief on top of the hierarchy.”

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Col. Arevalo said the “fake statement” circulating on social media was “obviously” a handiwork of “individuals who intend to sow discord in and to discredit the AFP as a professional organisation”.

The denial follows today’s controversial Supreme Court vote to remove Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno, an appointee of President Aquino described as an “enemy” by the current president.

There has also been reports that soldiers have been demoralised over the continuing encroachment of China into Philippine territory in the South China Sea.

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According to the widely-shared message, soldiers of the “Southern Command” withdrew support from the government of President Duterte.

Southern Command or “Southcom” is a now-defunct military unit, previously responsible for the entire island of Mindanao. It has since been divided into two parts — the Western Mindanao Command and the Eastern Mindanao Command. The first is focused on fighting terrorist groups and the second communist insurgents.

“A Messenger post purportedly from the soldiers of the ‘Southern Command’ allegedly withdrawing support from government and the president and encouraging other AFP units to follow suit is now circulating in social media. A few people sent it to me to determine its veracity,” said Col. Arevalo.

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“That is a fake statement. It did not come from the military.”

There have been proposals to combine the two commands into a single unit again. However, a final decision is yet to be made over the recommendation.

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