DND denies ‘withdrawal of support’ for Duterte

THE Department of National Defense and the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) on Sunday refuted circulating reports in social media that several defense and military officials threatened to withdraw their support from President Rodrigo Duterte in an effort to force Malacañang to denounce China’s incursions in the West Philippine Sea.

“This is fake news. I am not, and will never be, a part of any such group — neither are the officials at the Department of National Defense, many of whom are also retired military officers ,” Defense Secretary Del fin Lorenza na said in a statement, pertaining to an alleged Viber group consisting of retired and active military officers who were unhappy with Du te rt e’ s“soft” stance against China.

Lorenzana had strongly protested the presence of Chinese vessels at the Julian Felipe Reef and in other maritime areas within the country’s exclusive economic zone (EEZ).

The defense chief said propagating such malicious statements adds to the suffering of the people amid the Covid-19 pandemic.

“You are not helping our country and the people at all,” Lorenzana said.

In a separate statement, AFP chief, Gen. Cirilito Sobejana, dismissed the existence of the Viber group.

“The [Armed Forces of the Philippines] is a professional organization committed to safeguard democracy and protect its democratic institutions. We will focus on our mission and continue to perform our constitutional mandates,” Sobejana said.

The general appealed to the public to “spare”the military from partisan politics.

“The nation is already saddled with numerous challenges that the AFP must face than be distracted by people, groups and associations advancing their own agenda,”he added.

Lorenzana and Sobejana were responding to a Twitter post by one @infopsph, saying “a withdrawal of support is very imminent”if Duterte will not issue a strong stance against the continued Chinese presence within the country’s EEZ .