The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Chief of Staff General Romeo Brawner Jr’s statement on May 28 confirmed the coup rumors and infighting among the military officials of the Marcos regime. According to the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP), the circulating coup rumors are no longer new.

Gen. Brawner bragged the Marcos regime that no coup would happen as long as he leads the AFP. He said this is because the AFP remains “strong, professional, and strictly loyal” to the chain of command. The chief also threatened those he claimed were spreading coup rumors.

“It is of no surprise to us that coup rumors are once again circulating within the AFP. Gen. Romeo Brawner Jr’s stringent denials just confirmed the existence of factions within the AFP,” CPP chief information officer Marco Valbuena said.

He said, “Everyone knows that politicians have their own factions inside the AFP, even if the AFP tries to present itself as a ‘professional’ army.” The generals are only loyal to those who awarded their medals. “Many to Marcos, but some remain loyal to Duterte,” he added.

However, Valbuena clarified that regardless of which politician the generals and military officials side with, “they are all equally corrupt, fascist, and puppets of the US (although some are being courted by China).” He said, “There is no end to the corruption of its officials.”

Valbuena emphasized, “The AFP is very arrogant, but without the US, it cannot stand on its own. Even if they don’t admit it, it is the US military officials who truly run the AFP, providing weapons, doctrine, direction, and training,” he said.

The AFP and its subordinate units are also facing numerous cases of human rights violations. These include countless cases of killings—whether of civilians, children, women, or Red fighters who are no longer able to fight.

In the face of these crimes by soldiers, Valbuena called on lower-ranking officials and CAFGU elements, especially those from the peasant class and other toiling masses, to leave the service. “To those forced by troops in the barangays, be strong and refuse the coercion. To those enticed to join the military because of the high salary, do not enter the hell that is the AFP,” he said.