National Security Adviser Eduardo Año assured the public that any move to secede any part of the Philippines would be met with "resolute force" as he and another former member of the previous administration's cabinet rejected calls to separate Mindanao from the rest of the country.

Año said this after former president Rodrigo Duterte continued his tirades against the Marcos administration amid supposed attempts to change the 1987 Constitution via people's initiative.

In a statement, Año, who served as Duterte's Interior secretary, turned down calls to separate Mindanao from the rest of the Philippines and warned against actions that seek to divide the Filipino people.

"Calls for the division of our country only serve to undermine our collective progress and prosperity," he said.

"The strength of our country lies in our unity, and any attempt to sow division must be rejected by all sectors unequivocally)," he added.

With this, Año said the government will not sit idly and will deal with attempts to sow division in the country with everything it has.

"The National Government will not hesitate to use its authority and forces to quell and stop any and all attempts to dismember the Republic," he said.

"Any attempt to secede any part of the Philippines will be met by the government with resolute force, as it remains steadfast in securing the sovereignty and integrity of the national territory," he added.

Presidential Adviser on Peace, Reconciliation, and Unity Secretary Carlito Galvez frowned upon Duterte's suggestion and urged Filipinos to turn down any call that aimed to destabilize the Philippines.

"As Filipinos, let us, therefore, continue supporting the Marcos administration's peace, reconciliation, and unity agenda. The dividends of peace are upon us and are now being felt by everyone," he said.

According to Galvez, the call for Mindanao's secession denounces the Constitution and goes against the principles of a united Philippines.

He added that it would negate the decades' worth of efforts to end armed conflict in Mindanao, especially now that members of former revolutionary groups are now playing an active part in nation-building.

"We cannot go back to square one. We must learn our lessons from the past and apply these to all aspects of our life as peace-loving citizens," Galvez said.

"Let us always choose peace and remain united, as it is the only way to move forward as one people and one nation," he added.

Galvez served as the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) chief of staff under Duterte and was named vaccine czar during the Covid-19 pandemic.