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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider Teodoro says AFP should review Padilla's reservist status after communist admission

Teodoro says AFP should review Padilla's reservist status after communist admission

Published Jul 20, 2026 02:04 pm

At A Glance

  • Department of National Defense (DND) Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. said the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) should review Sen. Robin Padilla's status as a Philippine Army reservist after the senator publicly described himself as a communist during the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte.
  • Teodoro said the military should follow its own procedures in determining whether Padilla's statement has implications on his status in the reserve force.
  • Padilla later clarified that he was not claiming membership in the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP),saying his remark referred only to his personal political beliefs and not to any armed movement.
Department of National Defense (DND) Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. answers questions from the media at Camp Aguinaldo in Quezon City on July 20, 2026. (Martin A. Sadongdong / MANILA BULLETIN)
Department of National Defense (DND) Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. answers questions from the media at Camp Aguinaldo in Quezon City on July 20, 2026. (Martin A. Sadongdong / MANILA BULLETIN)
Department of National Defense (DND) Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. on Monday, July 20, said the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) should look into the status of Senator Robin Padilla as a Philippine Army (PA) reservist after the lawmaker publicly described himself as a communist during a Senate plenary session.
Teodoro said the AFP has its own procedures to determine whether Padilla's statement has implications on his status in the reserve force.
"Well, the AFP should probably take note of that and do its processes accordingly," Teodoro said when asked about Padilla’s admission.
Padilla, sitting as a senator-judge, made the remark during the fifth day of the impeachment trial against Vice President Sara Duterte last July 14, declaring himself as a communist during his inquiry of National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) Atty. Jeremy Lotoc regarding the historical background of "Operation Romanov."
"Operation Romanov", referencing Russia's last ruling dynasty, was an alleged assassination plot against President Marcos and his family, as affirmed by Lotoc earlier during the trial.
However, Padilla later clarified his statements and distinguished himself as separate from being a member of the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP), which has been waging insurgency against the government for more than 50 years already.
The senator said his statement referred to his personal political beliefs and not to membership in any armed movement.
In 2019, Padilla expressed intentio to join the military as a reservist. He was eventually commissioned as a captain before later attaining the rank of reserve lieutenant colonel. In 2020, he was elected chairperson of the Philippine Army's Multi-Sectoral Advisory Board Strategic Communication Committee.
In December 2021, the Philippine Army relieved Padilla and other reservists seeking elective posts of their organizational assignments to preserve the military's nonpartisan character. However, the Army clarified that they remained members of the reserve force.
The Constitution guarantees freedom of thought and belief but members of the military, including reservists, are expected to uphold the Constitution and remain loyal to the chain of command.
The AFP also maintains regulations governing the conduct of reservists.

Related Tags

DND Gilberto Teodoro Jr. Senator Robin Padilla Communist impeachment trial
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