Armed Forces Chief of Staff General Romeo S. Brawner gives a media briefing  after the Change of Command ceremonies at the AFP Commissioned Officers Club in Camp Aguinaldo, Quezon City on July 21, 2023. Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News/File

MANILA — A command conference that President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Friday focused on military strategy and on the Armed Forces of the Philippines and did not include a loyalty check, Gen. Romeo Brawner Jr. , AFP chief of staff, said.

The AFP has already said there is no need for any such check and has reiterated that the military will stay loyal to the Constitution and to the chain of command, of which Marcos Jr. is commander-in-chief.

“Nothing political. Very professional ang command conference natin,” Brawner told reporters in an ambush interview after the AFP’s 89th anniversary program.

Brawner said the discussions during the command conference centered on the military’s accomplishments “all throughout the years,” including the reported reduction of the number of New People's Army guerrillas to 1,000 from a high of around 25,000 fighters in the late 1980s.

PNP says Marcos command conference not a loyalty check

The AFP earlier said it is prioritizing the dismantling of the remaining weakened guerrilla front in the country before the year ends.

The military also presented to Marcos Jr. its new campaign plan called “Tatag Kapuluan”, which encompasses all operations needed “to protect the people and secure the State.”

“Kasama na ang West Philippine Sea doon. Kasama ang internal security operations pa rin. Kailangan tuluy-tuloy ang operations so we will ensure that we sustain the gains in our campaign,” Brawner said.

BRAWNER: WE TRUST THE SYSTEM

Brawner also expressed confidence in Marcos Jr.’s decision to review the 2025 national budget.

Marcos Jr. on Thursday said he is postponing the signing of the P6.352-trillion national budget for 2025 because of the “many changes” to the funding requests of various departments.

Marcos denies conducting 'loyalty check' among PNP, AFP personnel

Some retired military and police personnel had earlier written a letter to Marcos Jr. to convey their “serious concerns regarding questionable deviations of the approved General Appropriations Bill 2025.”

Brawner said the AFP will not concern itself with the letter.

 “Anyway, the president said that he is going to go over the budget," he said, adding issues with the budget do not have "to be a source of discontent or even concern."