President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. firmly rejected allegations of conducting ‘loyalty checks’ within the ranks of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and the Philippine National Police (PNP). Speaking at a press conference in Malacañang, Marcos expressed confusion over the term ‘loyalty check,’ stating that such practices are not part of the military or police protocol. He emphasized that the command conferences he holds with uniformed personnel are not intended to assess their loyalty to his administration but are standard operational meetings.
Marcos’s comments came in response to speculations that his meetings with security officials were aimed at ensuring their allegiance. He dismissed these claims as baseless, questioning the very concept of a ‘loyalty check’ and describing the notion as ‘stupid.’
The President recently presided over a meeting of the National Peace and Order Council (NPOC) at Camp Crame, where discussions focused on preparations for the 2025 midterm elections, the current peace and order situation across the nation, and strategies to combat Philippine offshore gaming operators. Key attendees included Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla, PNP chief Gen. Rommel Francisco Marbil, and AFP Chief of Staff General Romeo Brawner Jr.
As the year draws to a close, Marcos assessed the state of the nation as ‘quite stable,’ despite what he described as ‘a lot of noise.’ He reassured the public that the government is functioning effectively, suggesting that the criticisms and rumors circulating are merely distractions and not reflective of the country’s true condition.