General Romeo Brawner Jr., Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, in this file photo taken in August 2024.
PHOTO FROM AFP FB PAGE
MANILA, Philippines — The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) maintained that it is “loyal to the chain of command” and called for “calm and resolve” demeanor amid backlash against Vice President Sara Duterte for her remarks threatening to kill President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.
In a statement Saturday afternoon, AFP Chief-of-Staff Gen. Romeo Brawner Jr. said, “The Armed Forces of the Philippines is a professional organization focused on its mandate to protect the people and the state.”
“Our personnel are loyal to the Constitution and the Chain of Command,” he added.
In a virtual press conference Saturday early morning, Duterte said, “May kinausap na ako na tao. Sinabi ko sa kanya, ‘Kapag pinatay ako, patayin mo si BBM, si Liza Araneta, at si Martin Romualdez.’ No joke, no joke. Nagbilin na ako.”
(I already talked to a person. I told the person, ‘If they kill me, kill Bongbong Marcos, Liza Araneta, and Martin Romualdez.’ No joke, no joke. I’ve left instructions.)
READ: Sara Duterte’s kill remark vs Marcos is ‘active threat’ – Palace
The vice president was once an ally of President Marcos under the “UniTeam” coalition, which won the 2022 national elections in a landslide victory.
Brawner said, “We are facing greater challenges that require the strength of a united country and armed forces.”
AFP chief-of-staff continued by saying that it would “remain non-partisan, with utmost respect for our democratic institutions and civilian authority.”
“We call for calm and resolve, and for everyone to hold on to our values of respect and nationalism that will guide us in these trying times,” Brawner added.
His counterpart in the Philippine National Police, Chief Gen. Rommel Marbil, ordered the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group to investigate Duterte’s remarks.
READ: PNP to investigate VP Duterte’s ‘murder threat’ vs Marcos
In a statement Saturday afternoon, PNP said the President’s safety was “a national concern” and any threat to him “must be addressed with the highest level of urgency.”
Meanwhile, according to Malacañang Palace on Saturday morning, Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin referred the matter to the Presidential Security Command (PSC) for “immediate proper action”, calling the remarks an “active threat.”
Later Saturday afternoon, PSC said, “Pursuant to the directive of the Executive Secretary, the Presidential Security Command has heightened and strengthened its security protocols.”
“We are also closely coordinating with law enforcement agencies to detect, deter, and defend against any and all threats to the President and the First Family,” PSC added.
Duterte’s remarks came after an order from the House to transfer her detained chief-of-staff, Undersecretary Zuleika Lopez, from the custodial facility in the Batasang Pambansa Complex to the Correctional Institution for Women in Mandaluyong City.
READ: House orders transfer of VP Duterte’s aide to women’s prison
Lopez was ordered to be detained for five days, cited in contempt for undue interference in the House’s investigation into spending by the Office of the Vice President and the Department of Education during Duterte’s tenure as its secretary.
READ: House panel moves to cite OVP exec Lopez for contempt
The vice president then visited Lopez at the Batasang Pambansa Complex on Thursday evening and stayed in the office of her brother Davao City 1st District Rep. Paolo Duterte overnight, defying congressional leaders’ request for her to leave.
She later declared she would stay there “indefinitely.”
READ: VP Duterte ignores request to leave House after visiting chief of staff
When the House ordered to move Lopez to the women’s prison in Mandaluyong on Friday evening, Duterte “physically” meddled with the serving of the directive, according to House Sergeant-at-Arms Napoleon Taas.
READ: Sara Duterte blocks execution of House order on Lopez detention change
During the ordeal, however, Lopez fell ill and was brought to the Veterans Memorial Medical Center, but was later transferred to St. Luke’s Medical Center, both of which are in Quezon City.
READ: Sara Duterte’s chief of staff falls ill, rushed to hospital
House Secretary General Reginald Velasco then announced that St. Luke’s physicians examined and cleared Lopez, having her returned to Veterans by 1:15 p.m. on Saturday.