MANILA — The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) has denounced what it calls a “deliberate and malicious” attempt to portray the military as politically compromised, after an old video of top officials speaking with then – House Speaker Martin Romualdez and former appropriations chair Zaldy Co resurfaced online and went viral.
The AFP said the clip — which critics claim shows undue political influence over the military — is being “twisted by destabilizers” to falsely suggest the institution has been “bought,” “controlled,” or “compromised.”
“The old clip — taken when Congress approved the long-overdue increase of the subsistence allowance of AFP personnel from P150 to P350 — is now being twisted by destabilizers to insinuate that the AFP has been ‘bought,’ ‘controlled,’ or ‘compromised’,” the statement read. “This narrative is false, reckless, and deeply disrespectful to the men and women in uniform.”
The footage, recorded last year, captured a video call between Romualdez, Co, and AFP chief General Romeo Brawner Jr. as they discussed lawmakers’ approval of the increase in troops’ daily subsistence allowance.
The AFP clarified that the exchange seen in the clip originated from a December 2023 meeting where President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. asked Brawner what more could be done for soldiers.
Brawner recalled telling the President: “Sir, maybe we can increase the subsistence allowance of the soldiers. The P150 per day is no longer enough for their meals.”
Marcos responded: “Let’s work on that.”
Following this directive, the AFP said coordination began — through Ilocos 1st District’s Cong. Sandro Marcos — with Co and Romualdez in 2024 to ensure that the hike would be properly included in the 2025 national budget.
The military stressed that the request came directly from the Commander-in-Chief, passed through correct legislative processes, and was motivated solely by efforts to uplift soldiers’ welfare.
“There was no political bargaining, no exchange of favors, and no compromise of institutional integrity,” it said.
The AFP also rejected insinuations that expressing gratitude to lawmakers for supporting soldier-centered reforms is equivalent to surrendering its neutrality.
“The AFP’s loyalty has never been dictated by political personalities,” it said, emphasizing that the allowance adjustment was anchored on “years of sacrifice, hardship and unwavering commitment to duty” demonstrated by uniformed personnel./PN
