“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,” Marco Valbuena, chief information officer of the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP), said.

“Everyone knows that politicians have their own factions inside the AFP, even if the AFP tries to present itself as a ‘professional’ army,” Valbuena added. “The generals are loyal to whoever awarded their medals—many to Marcos, but some remain loyal to Duterte.”

“But regardless of their side, they are all corrupt, fascist, and puppets of the US (although some are being courted by China),” Valbuena said.

“There is no end to the corruption of its officials. Even with their high salaries, allowances, and other benefits, they still embezzle the salaries of their CAFGU, who do not receive their pay even as they are the ones in the front lines,” Valbuena added. He cited the example in Zamboanga where the AFP demanded the local government unit provide rice to the CAFGUs, even when this should be part of their salaries.

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

“The AFP is only ‘professional’ in killing people—whether civilians, children, women, or Red fighters who are no longer capable of fighting. Even within its own ranks, the crimes of senior officials are undeniable, such as the recently exposed rape and molestation of two junior officers by a major.”

“In fact, the rape by an AFP general of a junior officer is just a reflection of the chronic abuse and terrorism of the AFP against the masses, especially in remote villages,” Valbuena said.

“Our call to ordinary soldiers and the CAFGU, especially those from the peasant class and children of the toiling masses, is to leave the service,” Valbuena said. “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.”