THE ARMED Forces of the Philippines (AFP) has condemned the circulation of what it calls “false and misleading content,” alleging that President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. has threatened to remove the AFP pension.
The AFP categorically stated that the viral claim is baseless, malicious, and intended to mislead the public.
“The AFP categorically states that there is no such directive, statement, or policy from the President or any government agency,” the agency said in a statement.
“On the contrary, the administration has consistently expressed its fullest support for our men and women in uniform, including the protection and sustainability of their pension and benefits.”
The AFP said the pension of a retired military personnel is protected under existing laws. It is considered an earned benefit resulting from at least 20 years of faithful, honorable, and dedicated service to the nation.
Under the law, a retired soldier’s pension may only be forfeited if he or she is convicted of a crime, following due process and a final judgment of a competent court. No official can arbitrarily remove or withhold such a pension.
AFP warns retirees of possible sanctions
While denying the threat from the President, the AFP is simultaneously cautioning retired officials and personnel who are spreading false information or inciting rebellion administration that they risk losing their monthly pension.
Col. Francel Margareth Padilla, AFP spokesperson, said withholding pension is among the possible sanctions the military may impose on retired officers who have been making seditious or false statements against the government.
Speaking at the Saturday News Forum in Quezon City, Padilla noted that another possibility is subjecting them to court-martial proceedings, even though the retirees are already technically civilians.
“They’re categorized as civilians and they’re receiving a pension, so we’ll see how this will fall into play,” Padilla said.
Padilla added that they have been monitoring some retired military officers who have amplified their attacks on their social media accounts, particularly after the President exposed alleged anomalies in flood control projects of the Department of Public Works and Highways.
Photo from AFP
