AFP: Reports of generals walking out of command conference 'fake news'

The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) on Tuesday dismissed reports that several generals allegedly walked out of a command  conference, calling it “fake news.”

In a press briefing, AFP spokesperson Colonel Francel Margareth Padilla said she attended the meeting and it ended on a positive note.

“With regards to your question kanina (earlier) about the walkout incident, if you are referring to the command conference, that's fake news. I was there personally,” she said.

“There is nothing of that sort that happened. It was a very professional exchange of ideas and discussions and there were also a lot of updates that were given. It all ended on a positive note,” she added.

In a Facebook post, the AFP also said that there was "no truth" to the commentary made by a retired general on radio.

"It is not only based on unfounded information, his comments were also misleading and uncharacteristic of any military officer, active or retired," the statement said.

"Our soldiers are professional and loyal to the chain of command. We will not allow any effort to malign our ranks and discredit our commitment to our mandate by clout-chasers and their personal political agenda," it added.

On July 4, President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. headed a command conference of the AFP at Camp Aguinaldo in Quezon City.

Marcos ordered the AFP to de-escalate tensions with China in the West Philippine Sea, according to AFP chief General Romeo Brawner Jr.

"The guidance also of our President to our troops is not to escalate the situation on the ground or the seas,” Brawner said.

Brawner added Marcos expressed his appreciation for the Filipino soldiers who had to practice restraint while under orders to defend the country's sovereignty and interests in the West Philippine Sea, which China is claiming despite an arbitral award in favor of the Philippines in 2016. — DVM/ VDV, GMA Integrated News