Philippine defence officials deny threat to withdraw support from Rodrigo Duterte over South China Sea row with Beijing
- Defence secretary Delfin Lorenzana is among those who have dismissed claims a group of military officers using the Viber app have issued an ultimatum for the president to denounce China
- A separate petition calling for Duterte to step down over his handling of the Covid-19 pandemic has drawn more than 60,000 signatures
“We denounce the irresponsible propaganda being propagated in online posts alleging that a group of retired and active military officers are withdrawing their support for the president,” defence secretary Delfin Lorenzana said in a Sunday statement.
“This is fake news! I am not, and will never be, a part of any such group – nor are the officials at the Department of National Defense, many of whom are also retired military officers,” he said, calling on the “destabilisers to cease from propagating malicious statements”.
Some 200 Chinese vessels, including some believed to be maritime militia, moored around the Whitsun Reef in the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone last month, an incident Beijing insists was prompted by bad weather. Nine vessels were still moored at the reef as of last Tuesday.
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Philippine coastguard sends strong warning to Chinese vessels during South China Sea patrol
The Armed Forces of the Philippines were firmly behind the chain of command, Sobejana said, and committed to the nation “its unflinching loyalty to the constitution and the duly constituted authorities”.