Lorenzana denies support withdrawal
Defense chief belies posts made by the account ‘Info Ops PH’ on different social media platforms
The defense and military establishments have denied claims that hundreds of retired and active military officers withdraw support from President Rodrigo Duterte should he stay silent on China’s alleged encroachment in the West Philippine Sea (WPS).
“This is fake news! I am not, and will never be, a part of any such group,” Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana said. Officials of the Department of National Defense, many of whom are also retired military officers, are also not part of the group, he said.
Lorenzana was referring to posts made by the account “Info Ops PH” on different social media platforms.
According to the posts, more than 500 “high-echelon” officers from various units of the Armed Forces demand that President Duterte denounce China and assert the Philippines’ claims in the WPS.
Lorenzana and Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) chief Gen. Cirilito Sobejana were already discussing the issue with US counterparts as “Duterte continues to evade and downplay China’s near invasion of our maritime jurisdiction,” one of the posts stated.
Info Ops PH cited President Duterte’s evening press conference on Thursday, wherein he allegedly “sidestepped” addressing China’s moves at the WPS.
Officers who belong to the socalled “Viber 500” issued their final warning to withdraw support from President Duterte if he “does not take the side of the Philippines against China in the West Philippine Sea,” it said.
Lorenzana belied the posts and called those who propagate them “destabilizers.”
“Such disinformation is an act of reckless agitation emanating from detractors, who have a limited and myopic appreciation of issues,” he said.
“We call on these destabilizers to cease from propagating malicious statements especially at a time when our people should all be coming together in the face of the challenges that we are all currently facing. You are not helping our country and people at all,” Lorenzana said.
Sobejana also dismissed the alleged existence of the Viber group with claimed membership from among senior and junior officers, both active and retired.
“The AFP 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. We will veer away, as we appeal to all quarters to spare your AFP from partisan politics,” he said.
“We assure our people that your soldiers, airmen, sailors, and marines are firmly behind the chain of command,” Sobejana added.
Maj. Edgard Arevalo, AFP spokesperson, noted that the posts about the “Viber 500” surfaced after another message made rounds in social media about warplanes from various countries taking off and landing in Clark Air Base.
The AFP had denied that message and said it is on “normal alert,” as opposed to the sender’s claim.
“It is obvious that the motive of these malicious posts is to create panic and confusion. We advise the public to remain calm and dismiss them as another disinformation,” he said.