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Filipino and American soldiers attend the opening ceremony of the annual Philippines-U.S. joint military exercise, Balikatan, at the Armed Forces of the Philippines headquarters in Camp Aguinaldo, Quezon City, on April 21, 2025. The joint drills aim to enhance interoperability, strengthen defense ties, and promote regional peace and security through combined training operations between the two long-time allies. Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News

Filipino and American soldiers attend the opening ceremony of the annual Philippines-U.S. joint military exercise, Balikatan, at the Armed Forces of the Philippines headquarters in Camp Aguinaldo, Quezon City, on April 21, 2025. The joint drills aim to enhance interoperability, strengthen defense ties, and promote regional peace and security through combined training operations between the two long-time allies.
Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News

Article (news)

BALIKATAN 2025

ABS-CBN News

<p>MANILA — The Armed Forces of the Philippines on Sunday said it is standing by the Marcos administration amid public anger towards corruption in flood control projects.</p><p>The AFP released the statement following calls from &quot;some groups&quot; for the military to withdraw its support from the government.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/9/21/winnie-monsod-politicians-should-be-focus-of-tragedy-of-flood-control-corruption-1137">Winnie Monsod: Politicians should be focus of &#x27;tragedy&#x27; of flood control corruption</a></div><p>It pointed to the Inquirer column of Gen. Romeo Brawner Jr., AFP chief of staff, where he reaffirmed the military&#x27;s loyalty to the constitution and the Filipino people and stressed that they would not play politics.</p><p>Thousands of students, activists, church groups, ordinary citizens, and celebrities took to the streets on Sunday to condemn the corruption of flood control funds.</p><p>Former military generals also gathered at Gate 4 of Camp Aguinaldo on Sunday morning, the headquarters of the AFP in Quezon City.</p><p>They likewise demanded accountability over the flood control projects and called on President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to step down.</p><p>But Brawner believes genuine reforms should come through peaceful and democratic means and not shortcuts that endanger democracy and stability, the AFP said.</p><p>He warned that &quot;dragging the military into politics only harms ordinary citizens who bear the heaviest toll when instability arises,&quot; it said.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/9/21/infra-corruption-a-tradition-started-during-martial-law-group-1004"><strong>Infra corruption a &#x27;tradition&#x27; started during Martial Law: group</strong></a></div><p>While Brawner acknowledges the reality of corruption, he said the AFP stands with the President and the Filipino people in fighting it. </p><p>Change can also be achieved through &quot;character transformation and civic responsibility—by voting wisely, paying the right taxes, and practicing discipline as members of society,&quot; he said.<strong></strong><br/></p><p>&quot;The uniform we wear is not a wall that divides us but a symbol of our vow: that if called upon, we will be the first to stand—and even the first to fall—in defense of peace,&quot; Brawner said.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/9/21/pnp-on-alert-for-lightning-rallies-on-sept-21-0849"><strong>PNP on alert for lightning rallies on Sept 21</strong></a></div><p>The AFP, he added, &quot;does not seek power or wealth, but only a government that is honest, a society that is peaceful, and a nation free from fear and division.&quot;</p><p>Speaking to ABS-CBN News, Palace Press Officer Claire Castro said they have not monitored any grumblings within the military amid the corruption scandal.</p><p>&quot;Tiwala ang Pangulo sa ating uniformed personnel, sa mga opisyal natin, so alam niya ang mga tao ay hindi naman anti-PBBM kundi anti-corruption,&quot; she said.</p><p>(The President trusts our uniformed personnel and our officials. He knows that people are not anti-PBBM but are anti-corruption.)</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/9/21/filipinos-have-power-to-end-corruption-by-voting-for-the-right-leaders-castro-1451"><strong>&#x27;Sana wag silang makakalimot&#x27;: Filipinos have power to end corruption by voting for right leaders, Castro says</strong></a></div><div><br/></div><div><strong>WATCH:</strong></div><div><br/></div><div><strong><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/reIVQgV8Lto?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span></strong><br/></div>

<p>The Armed Forces of the Philippines on Sunday said it is standing by the Marcos Jr. administration amid public anger towards corruption in flood control projects. The AFP released the statement following calls for the military to withdraw its support from the government.</p>

The Armed Forces of the Philippines on Sunday said it is standing by the Marcos Jr. administration amid public anger towards corruption in flood control projects. The AFP released the statement following calls for the military to withdraw its support from the government.

AFP stands by Marcos Jr. government amid flood control scandal

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AFP stands by Marcos Jr. government amid flood control scandal

ABS-CBN News

Published September 21, 2025 03:50 PM PHT

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AFP

Armed Forces of the Philippines

Flood Control

Flood Control Scandal

Romeo Brawner Jr

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