AGFO backs Marcos' anti-corruption push, warns graft a 'threat to national security'
President Ferdinand 'Bongbong' Marcos Jr. meets members of the Association of General and Flag Officers (AGFO) in Malacañan Palace on Sept. 19, 2025, to discuss key issues concerning the military. (PCO photo)
Retired generals and flag officers on Friday expressed firm support for President Marcos’ anti-corruption drive, calling the misuse of public funds a direct danger to the country’s safety and stability.
In a meeting with the President at Malacañan, the Association of General and Flag Officers (AGFO) presented a manifesto commending Marcos for ordering an investigation into alleged anomalies in flood control projects.
“We view corruption not merely as a matter of graft, but as a direct and severe threat to national security,” the group said in its statement.
“When funds intended to protect our communities from national calamities are siphoned off by greed, it does not only steal from public coffers; it directly endangers lives, destroys livelihoods, displaces families, and erodes the people’s trust in the very institutions meant to serve them,” it added.
AGFO added that Marcos’ move to investigate and prosecute those responsible was a “necessary and commendable” step to safeguarding the people
The group pledged to remain a partner of the Commander-in-Chief in “upholding integrity, transparency, and accountability in public service for a safer, more prosperous, and more secure Philippines.”
President Marcos, for his part, said he was encouraged by the military community’s support for his reform agenda, noting that rooting out corruption is essential to restoring public trust and strengthening national defense.
Other organizations also submitted their manifestos of support, including the National ROTC Alumni Association, the PNP Academy Alumni Association, and the Confederation of National Unified Service Association.
Aside from the anti-corruption drive, the meeting also tackled military concerns, such as the proposed salary standardization for uniformed personnel and the ongoing Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) modernization program.
Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin, Special Assistant to the President Antonio Lagdameo Jr., Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr., and AFP Chief of Staff General Romeo Brawner Jr. joined Marcos in the engagement.