In this Armed Forces of the Philippines handout photo, AFP chief Romeo Brawner Jr. and President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. inspect the troops during the 88th Armed Forces of the Philippines anniversary on December 21, 2023.

In this Armed Forces of the Philippines handout photo, AFP chief Romeo Brawner Jr. and President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. inspect the troops.

Pia Gutierrez

ABS-CBN News

<p>Padilla explained that there are two categories of reservist: Active and non-active. Active reservists are those actually performing their duty with the AFP.</p><p><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/2024/4/16/politics-free-speech-clash-after-alvarez-call-for-afp-to-abandon-marcos-1509" id="isPasted">Politics, free speech clash after Alvarez call for AFP to abandon Marcos</a></p><p>Alvarez was not on active duty and he was not in uniform when he made his remarks, Padilla said.&nbsp;</p><p>&ldquo;So we defer this po sa ating higher level courts &lsquo;no. DOJ is already conducting an investigation on this so doon po muna (let&#39;s go there first),&quot; Padilla said.</p><p>The AFP has rejected Alvarez&#39;s call, saying the military will stand firm on protecting the Constitution and following the chain of command.</p><p><strong>A&Ntilde;O: ALVAREZ UNDERESTIMATED SECURITY FORCES&#39; PROFESSIONALISM<br></strong></p><p>In a separate statement, National Security Adviser Eduardo A&ntilde;o said Alvarez &quot;severely underestimated the professionalism and integrity of both the AFP and the [Philippine National Police]&quot; with his call for them to withdraw support to the administration.</p><p>A&ntilde;o is a former armed forces chief and a former secretary of the Department of the Interior and Local Government, to which the PNP is attached.</p><style type="text/css" id="isPasted">
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</style><p>&quot;Both institutions are loyal to the Constitution, the rule of law, the chain of command, and the President as Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces. Insinuations to the contrary are baseless and unfounded,&quot; he said.</p><p>He also said such statements, especially from a high-ranking reservist officer is &quot;not only irresponsible but also illegal and unconstitutional&quot;.</p><style type="text/css" id="isPasted">
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</style><p>&quot;It erodes the very foundation of our democratic institutions and undermines the supremacy of civilian authority over the military. Such utterances and actions can be construed as seditious or rebellious and they have no place in our society,&quot; A&ntilde;o added.</p><p>According to A&ntilde;o, in a democratic society like the Philippines, the armed forces are &quot;neutral and apolitical, serving the interests of the nation as a whole&quot;.</p><p>Security forces have figured in two changes of power &mdash; in 1986 and in 2001 &mdash; and groups within them participated in coups and mutinies during the presidencies of Corazon Aquino and Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.&nbsp;</p><p>Administrations since 1986 have kept an eye on troop morale, a factor that has influenced proposed policies like reforming the pension system for uniformed personnel.</p><p><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/11/06/23/we-are-happy-pnp-says-no-reason-to-join-destabilization-efforts">&#39;We are happy&#39;: PNP says &#39;no reason&#39; to join destabilization efforts</a></p><p><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/11/06/23/we-are-happy-pnp-says-no-reason-to-join-destabilization-efforts"><style type="text/css" id="isPasted">
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</style></a></p><p>&quot;The AFP and PNP shall continue to remain above petty partisan, political, or personal interests,&quot; A&ntilde;o said.</p><p>&quot;Rep. Alvarez, and others who may be similarly inclined, should not drag such respected institutions to serve their partisan agenda or self-interest, even if such calls are made, as he claimed, in a fit of emotion,&quot; he added.</p><p>A&ntilde;o, likewise, called on the Department of Justice to review the matter and &quot;consider appropriate legal actions against Rep. Alvarez and others similarly situated&quot;.</p><style type="text/css" id="isPasted">
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</style><p>&quot;His words and deeds are a disservice to our men and women in uniform who risk their lives daily to safeguard our nation&#39;s security, defend us from all manner of threats, and uphold the Constitution,&quot; he said.</p><p><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/2024/4/15/afp-reiterates-strict-adherence-to-chain-of-command-1327">After Alvarez plea, AFP reiterates &lsquo;strict adherence to Chain of Command&rsquo;</a></p><p><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/I4yr9kLTIPE?&wmode=opaque&rel=0" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><br></p>

<p>The Philippine Navy earlier said it would initiate a probe into Alvarez, who is a Marine reservist, following his statements.</p><p>Col. Francel Margareth Padilla, <span id="isPasted" style="color: rgb(65, 65, 65); letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; white-space: normal; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial; display: inline !important; float: none;">AFP spokesperson,&nbsp;</span>however noted that Alvarez was not acting in his capacity as a reservist when he suggested in a rally in Tagum City that the AFP withdraw its support to Marcos, who is also their Commander-in-Chief.</p>

<p>The Armed Forces of the Philippines says it is deferring to the Department of Justice the issue of whether former House Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez is liable for sedition when he called on the military to withdraw support for President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.</p>

The Armed Forces of the Philippines says it is deferring to the Department of Justice the issue of whether former House Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez is liable for sedition when he called on the military to withdraw support for President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.

AFP defers to DOJ on investigation of Alvarez | ABS-CBN News

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AFP defers to DOJ on investigation of Alvarez

AFP defers to DOJ on investigation of Alvarez