MANILA, Philippines — The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) yesterday dismissed as fake news the supposed calls of a shadowy military group in declaring their withdrawal of support for President Duterte.
The group, introducing themselves as officers and soldiers from the Southern Command (Southcom) of the AFP, called for withdrawal of support for the commander-in-chief whom they accused of fake governance.
A certain “Steve Dissident” posted the call on social media.
“That is a fake statement. It did not come from the military. There is no Southern Command of the AFP,” AFP spokesman Col Edgard Arevalo said.
Arevalo pointed out that the command, which the supposed officers and soldiers claimed to belong, no longer exists and was a handiwork of individuals out to sow discord and discredit the AFP.
As a professional organization, the AFP is united and steadfast in following the duly constituted authority and under the chain-of-command, with the president and commander-in-chief on top of the hierarchy.
Other officers simply shrugged off the “Steve Dissident” post that also called on other AFP units to join them in heeding the voice of the people.
“Southcom has long been abolished, so what command is this guy talking about,” a senior military officer said.
The military’s Southern Command or Southcom based in Zamboanga City during the term of former president Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo had long been abolished, the official pointed out.
Coming out of the abolished key military command was the Western Mindanao Command and the Eastern Mindanao Command based in Davao City.