Philippine military on ‘red alert’ as coup rumours swirl before anti-corruption protests

By Raissa Robles

Coup rumours swirled in the Philippine capital over the weekend, with the military placed on “red alert” and all leave for its personnel cancelled, ahead of planned protests against corruption in state-funded flood control projects.

Sources close to and within the military confirmed to This Week in Asia that certain private individuals, former generals and groups were trying to persuade active-duty officers to withdraw their support for Commander-in-Chief and President Ferdinand Marcos Jnr.

Defence Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jnr and Armed Forces of the Philippines chief of staff General Romeo Brawner Jnr issued a joint statement on Saturday espousing “national unity and upholding the Constitution amid calls for withdrawal of support” of the Philippine armed forces.