Acting Philippine National Police (PNP) Chief Lt. Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. on Monday dismissed claims that members of the police force were planning to withdraw their support from President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.
Speaking at a press briefing in Camp Crame, Nartatez said there had been no such discussions within the PNP. “No one has talked to me, as well as my staff, commanders and even regional directors. If there are such efforts, I can ask them not to do it,” he said.
He questioned the basis of such rumors, emphasizing that Marcos “won by majority vote” and that there was “no reason to remove him from office.”
The statement followed denials from Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Chief of Staff Gen. Romeo Brawner Jr., who earlier refuted allegations of a coup plot supposedly involving active and retired military officers and religious groups.
“The coup rumors are not true. I myself was surprised when I saw the article,” Brawner said during a forum organized by the Foreign Correspondents Association of the Philippines on October 3.
The AFP has since branded the allegations as “dangerous disinformation,” reiterating that the organization “remains loyal to the Constitution and will follow the chain of command.” It also stressed that the military is “fully committed to defending the Republic — not betraying it.”
Nartatez added that the PNP sees no need for a special loyalty check. “With or without orders for a loyalty check, we conduct one. That’s why we say, the state of morale in the PNP is relatively high,” he said.
