The Philippine Army in Negros Oriental will uphold constitutional authority, support President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., and oppose destabilization efforts against the government, an official said yesterday.

Brigadier General Jason Jumawan, commander of the Army’s 302nd Infantry Brigade in Tanjay City, Negros Oriental, in a press conference said the Philippine Army will not participate in any unconstitutional efforts to destabilize the government.

He noted that the coup d’état in 1987 and the subsequent military revolts “were chaotic and our economy declined.”

Nothing came out of these events, and many of those who participated lost their jobs, he added.

Jumawan backed Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro’s statement on strengthening the institution, emphasizing that a military uprising is not a solution to the nation’s current problems.

He disclosed that he has spoken with military retirees, and some of them are actually supporting the call for an uprising.

“I told them to stop because they will fail, and the military will not be supporting them,” Jumawan said.

He guaranteed that they are prepared at any moment to respond to any incident they are called to suppress when a rebellion occurs. (PNA)