MANILA — Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. on Tuesday urged retired military officers to submit formal affidavits if they possess evidence of an alleged “third force” plotting a coup against President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s administration.
Speaking during a medical and dental mission in Laoac town, Pangasinan, Teodoro said the Department of National Defense (DND) has not received any credible reports of such a plot.
“As responsible citizens, why don’t they execute the proper affidavit and file it with law enforcement and prosecutorial officials so it can be investigated properly, if there really is evidence?” Teodoro told reporters.
‘KUDETA ME’ CLAIM
Retired General Romeo Poquiz, convener of the United People’s Initiative (UPI), a group of retired officers critical of the Marcos administration, earlier claimed that the so-called third force could be plotting a “Kudeta Me” coup, followed by a civil-military junta takeover.
“From the grapevine. This is what’s shaping up: ‘Kudeta Me’ by the so-called Third Force, then rule by civil-military junta,” Poquiz posted on social media. “Patriots in the AFP must not allow this unconstitutional takeover of power.”
Despite the warning, Teodoro emphasized that authorities have yet to see any proof substantiating Poquiz’s claims.
FOR CONTEXT
The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) has historically been sensitive to coup rumors, as the country experienced multiple coup attempts in the 1980s and 1990s.
The United People’s Initiative (UPI), founded by retired military officers, has positioned itself as a watchdog against alleged corruption and government overreach, particularly criticizing scandals involving the Marcos administration’s flood control projects.
While social media has amplified claims like the “Kudeta Me” plot, Philippine law requires any allegation of this magnitude to be formally filed with law enforcement for verification and possible prosecution.
Defense Secretary Teodoro’s call for affidavits underscores the government’s stance that rumors alone cannot justify security or legal actions.