MANILA, Philippines – The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) remains united, it said in a statement on Friday, September 7, despite being buffeted by the controversial issue of President Rodrigo Duterte revoking the amnesty of navyman-turned-senator Antonio Trillanes IV.

“The AFP as an institution is united and committed to the chain of command and the rule of law,” the AFP said in a statement sent to reporters.

The AFP is currently reviving administrative cases against Trillanes, but its managing department, the Department of National Defense has decided that it would wait for the Supreme Court to decide on the validity of Duterte’s proclamation revoking Trillanes’ amnesty.

Why is there doubt: Trillanes warned the AFP not to allow itself to be used by Duterte for his political agenda. 

He added that there are other servicemen who are “concerned” about the military’s stand of “just following orders.”

Trillanes earned a spot in the roster of Duterte’s harshest critics, finding themselves often on opposing sides in feuds ever since the campaign period of the 2016 elections.

Trillanes is not combative: Trillanes, however, ackowledged that the concerns of some do not necessarily point to a fractured AFP. He said that “there’s no crack in the AFP” despite differing views here and there.

What he said he wanted to emphasize was that the AFP should do what are both legal and moral. (READ: Disobey Duterte’s ‘illegal orders,’ Alejano asks AFP, PNP)

“The AFP is united. They may have differing opinion about different things, but when it comes to their word, they are united. They are loyal to their chain of command and to their promised mandate before the Constitution. I don’t have any doubt about that,” Trillanes said in a mix of English and Filipino.

“And it should remain that way,” he added. – Rappler.com  

Follow the developments here:

• Opposition calls for Senate crowd to prevent Trillanes arrest
• Little-known fact: AFP chief Galvez got amnesty for 1989 failed coup
• Rush for TRO: Trillanes speeds up Supreme Court proceedings
• Trillanes: Supreme Court TRO will give military a ‘way out’
• Military defers action on Trillanes, waits for SC
• Duterte rules out warrantless arrest of Trillanes
• DOJ seeks Trillanes warrant in another court
• EXPLAINER: Why DOJ has two requests for Trillanes warrant
• No warrant vs Trillanes yet, Makati court says records kept in ‘bodega’
• Paolo Duterte, Mans Carpio file libel complaints vs Trillanes
• Sotto to minority senators: Don’t abuse Senate leadership’s ‘hospitality’
• Justice Peralta in charge of Trillanes Supreme Court petition
• Esperon contradicts DND, says Trillanes no longer a soldier

Summaries: 

• [WRAP | Day 1] Duterte voiding Trillanes’ amnesty: Everything you need to know
• [WRAP | Day 2] Trillanes gets relief from court, DOJ seeks options
• [WRAP | Day 3] Looming Trillanes arrest jolts PH from sleep