Retired members of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) who spread misinformation or make statements that incite sedition could lose their government pensions, military officials warned on Saturday.
AFP spokesperson Col. Francel Margareth Padilla said during a news forum that the institution is reviewing its pension system after reports surfaced that some retired officers had called on the military to withdraw support from President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.
“Civilian nga po category nila, but ito nga po sabi natin since nagre-receive sila ng pension pag-aaralan natin how this will fall into play,” Padilla said.
When asked if retirees could lose their monthly benefits, she replied, “If the legal channel determines that this is so, then we will follow.”
Padilla emphasized that making seditious remarks and circulating false information carry legal consequences, adding that “the AFP is not gonna take this sitting down.”
AFP Chief of Staff Gen. Romeo Brawner Jr. earlier confirmed that a few retired officers had indeed called for the withdrawal of military support for Marcos following public outrage over alleged flood control project anomalies.
Philippine Navy Rear Admiral Roy Vincent Trinidad also disclosed that the highest-ranking official monitored for spreading disinformation was a retired two-star general, who reportedly receives around ₱160,000 in monthly pension.
“’Pag tumatanggap ka ng pension sa gobyerno, it follows na dapat may pananagutan ka sa tinatanggap mo so ito ay kasama sa pinag-aaralan ng legal officers ng AFP,” Trinidad said.
He criticized the actions of some retirees, saying they were distorting facts and spreading false narratives to influence active soldiers. “Kung ang problema ay corruption, ang sagot doon ay higpitan ang project management, hindi umaklas ang militar,” he added.
The Department of National Defense (DND) has since dismissed speculation of a coup plot, confirming that President Marcos met with the Association of Generals and Flag Officers (AGFO) and other groups on September 19, just days before the September 21 anti-corruption protests where a riot broke out in Manila.
