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AFP to remain professional amid calls for revolt - DND chief

Philippine News Agency

By Priam Nepomuceno
November 20, 2025, 6:50 pm

MANILA -- Department of National Defense (DND) Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. on Thursday assured the public that the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) will remain professional amid calls for its withdrawal of support from the government.

In a radio interview, Teodoro maintained that the DND and the AFP are both aware of their mandate to protect and secure the state against all oppressors, both foreign and domestic.

"(Sa) Sandatahang Lakas, makasisigurado ang ating mga kababayan, na ang ating sundalo ay professional. Hindi ito kailangan pangaralan. Alam nila ang kanilang misyon, sila ay mapagkakatiwalaan (Rest assured that our troops are professional. They do not need to be told what to do regarding such things. They know their mission, they are trustworthy)," he said.

Teodoro noted that Filipinos hold the AFP in high regard, as proven by the 73 percent trust rating it enjoyed in the last OCTA Research survey.

This high trust rating, he said, could be attributed to all issues being faced by the country, including standing up to China in the ongoing row in the West Philippine Sea.

"Kung ang tingin ng taongbayan na ang Armed Forces ay isang gamit upang mapanatili ang hindi kanais-nais na sitwasyon, sana ay bumagsak ito ng katodo-todo (If the public thinks that the military is being used to perpetuate a bad situation, then its popularity would have plummeted)," he said.

Amid calls for it to withdraw support from the government, the AFP said the commanders of its seven major Combatant Commands remain committed to upholding the Constitution.

The Combatant Commands are the National Capital Region Command, Southern Luzon Command, Northern Luzon Command, Western Command, Visayas Command, Eastern Mindanao Command, and Western Mindanao Command.

"In a united declaration, the commanders of the AFP's Combatant Commands affirmed that the military remains steadfast in its constitutional mandate to uphold the rule of law and ensure full respect for civilian authority," the AFP said in a statement. (PNA)