Brawner to troops: Follow chain of command amid 'shaken' political environment

Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) chief General Romeo Brawner Jr. on Monday reminded the military to follow the chain command and remain professional amid the current political environment in the country.

"Allow me to take this opportunity to remind our soldiers in the AFP to continue to be professional and competent,” Brawner said in his speech at the launch of the 18-Day Campaign to End Violence Against Women.

"In the past days, we have seen a myriad of events that transpired in our country and this has shaken the political environment of our country. As soldiers, we should not be shaken by this,” he added.

Brawner made the statement amid the deepening rift between President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. and Vice President Sara Duterte, with Duterte saying she has ordered to have Marcos assassinated should she be killed.

Brawner reminded the troops of their vow to defend the Philippine Constitution.

“Sinabi natin we are loyal to our country, we are loyal to our flag, we are loyal to our organization and we are loyal to the Constitution. This also goes to say that we are loyal to the duly constituted authorities whoever that may be. Hindi po tayo loyal sa tao kundi sa posisyon,” he said.

(We vowed to be loyal to our country, to our flag, to our organization, and to the Constitution. This also goes to say that we are loyal to the duly constituted authorities whoever that may be. We are not loyal to the person but to the position.)

Interviewed on Super Radyo dzBB, AFP spokesperson Colonel Francel Margareth Padilla pointed out that the AFP taking Duterte’s remark against Marcos as a national security threat was just a standard procedure.

"Nananatili po kaming tapat sa aming mandato bilang taga-pagtanggol ng Constitution. Nagsisilbi rin po kami sa bayan sa ilalim ng Pangulo natin bilang Commander-in-Chief," she said.

(We remain faithful to our mandate as defenders of the Constitution. We also serve the people under our President as the Commander-in-Chief.)

“Nagbigay na po ng statement din ang ating Presidential Security Command that they are heightening their alerts. Standard procedure naman po ito just in case,” she added.

(Our Presidential Security Command has also given a statement that they are on heightened alert. This is standard procedure just in case.)

Duterte on Monday maintained that her statement was “maliciously taken out of logical context.”

She earlier clarified that her remark was not a threat but only highlighted the alleged threat to her security.

Marcos, for his part, said he was "alarmed" by Duterte's remarks and vowed to resist any "criminal" moves.  —KBK, GMA Integrated News