Armed Forces Deputy Chief of Staff for Intelligence Major General Alex Luna was ordered to be relieved by Defense chief Delfin Lorenzana after the AFP released an “erroneous list” of alleged members the New People’s Army (NPA) killed by the government forces.
Lorenzana said the NPA list came from Luna’s office and said its publication was “an unforgivable lapse.”
“His negligence only shows a lackadaisical attitude towards his job resulting to confusion and damage to reputation. We do not take these offenses lightly and I want to hold the people involved accountable,” Lorenzana said.
Lorenzana said the AFP intel chief would be relieved from his post today, January 28.
The Armed Forces of the Philippines’ Civil-Military Operations Office (J7) issued an apology for “inconsistencies” in the ‘List of Students who joined the NPA’ it released recently.
Statement of Apology from AFP Information Exchange
We sincerely apologize for those who were inadvertently affected by inconsistencies regarding the List of Students who joined the NPA (Died or Captured) that was posted in the AFP Information Exchange Facebook account. That article has since been immediately taken down or deleted from our social media accounts.
AFP intel chief relieved over ‘erroneous list’ of NPAs
The Office of the J7, AFP is already conducting an internal investigation as to how the list got published. Personnel who are responsible will be held to account.
We want to assure the public that we are now reviewing our processes and procedures to ensure that similar incident will not happen again in the future.
The Office of J7, AFP remains committed to providing and disseminating information on social media platforms that will contribute to a better Philippines for all.
The ‘List of Students who joined the NPA’ was different from the list of UP alumni who also allegedly joined NPA that was posted by AFP Information Exchange on its Facebook page.
Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana said Sunday the AFP would apologize to lawyer Rafael Aquino who was included in the list of alumni.
“Yes, the AFP will apologize. What reason will they give? I do not know. It’s an unpardonable gaffe,” Lorenzana said.