Ganito kung ilarawan ni Pangulong Ferdinand Marcos Jr., ang palaging itinatanong sa kanya kung magsasagawa siya ng loyalty check sa tropa ng gobyerno sa gitna ng umiiral na “alitan” sa pagitan niya (Pangulong Marcos) at Vice President Sara Duterte.
“Hindi ko naiintindihan ang term na ‘yan because I don’t know how you conduct a loyalty check. At least not when you call a command conference… Because in the military, the police, we don’t have that,” ayon sa Pangulo sa isang panayam.
“Wala kaming ganoon, I only hear it in the media. So I was just wondering how do you define a loyalty check? Anyway, it’s just a stupid question.” giit ng Pangulo.
Nauna rito, sa ulat, inulit ni AFP spokesperson Col. Francel Margareth Padilla ang pahayag ni AFP chief of staff Gen. Romeo Brawner Jr. na nananatiling tapat ang militar sa Konstitusyon at sa Chain of Command.
“We are facing greater challenges that require the strength of a unified country and armed forces. As a cornerstone of national stability, the AFP shall remain non-partisan with utmost respect to democratic institutions and civilian authority,” ani Padilla
“There is no need for a loyalty check. As the chief of staff said, he trusts that each soldier will perform his mandate and remain professional. Ang aming loyalty is to the Flag and to the Constitution, and we adhere to the Chain of Command,” dagdag niya.
Nanawagan si AFP chief of staff Brawner nitong Lunes sa mga sundalo na manatiling tapat sa Konstitusyon sa gitna ng alitan sa pagitan ng dalawang pinakamataas na pinuno ng bansa.
“We just have to remind ourselves of the vow, yung panata na ginawa po natin nung tayo ay bagong pasok lamang sa serbisyo and up to now,” ayon sa military chief sa seremonya sa Camp Aguinaldo.
“In that vow, sinabi po natin that we vow to defend the Constitution of the Philippines. That means that we have to follow the chain of command. Sinabi natin we are loyal to our country; we are loyal to our flag; we are loyal to our organization; and we are loyal to the Constitution.” aniya pa rin.
