No loyalty check on soldiers despite alleged assassination plot, Palace says
President Marcos attends the 1st Semester 2026 Armed AFP Command Conference on July 7, 2026 where the AFP presented updates on its efforts to strengthen the country’s security, enhance operational readiness, and advance its defense capabilities. (PCO)
President Marcos continues to trust the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) despite reports that some active personnel were identified as persons of interests in an alleged assassination plot against him, Malacañang said.
The President will also not conduct any loyalty check following the claims, Palace Press Officer and Communications Undersecretary Claire Castro said.
"So, ngayon ay nandoon pa rin po ang tiwala ng Pangulo sa ating mga kasundaluhan. Kung mayroon mang mga magiging tiwalag sa kanilang mandato, dapat malaman kung sino ang mga ito para rin sa proteksyon ng Pangulo (So, the President’s trust in our military remains. If there are any members who intend to break away from their mandate, they should be identified, also for the President’s protection)," Castro said in a Palace briefing on Thursday, July 23.
"Again, inuulit po natin, iyong tiwala ng Pangulo ay nandoon pa rin po sa ating mga kasundaluhan. Iyong mga balak na tumiwalag para proteksyunan, ipaglaban ang interes ng isang tao laban sa batas, laban sa Konstitusyon, dapat pong malaman kung sinu-sino (we reiterate that the President’s trust remains with our military. Those who are planning to abandon their duty in order to protect or advance the interests of an individual against the law and the Constitution should be identified)," Castro added.
Asked if there will be no loyalty check on the AFP, Castro said there will be none as the President knows who to trust.
"Sa ngayon po kasi ay alam ng Pangulo kung sino ang mga kailangang mapagkatiwalaan. Hindi po ngayon nagkakaroon ng loyalty check, nasa security na po iyan at nasa pamumuno na po iyan ng kasundaluhan (At this point, the President already knows who the people he can trust are. There is currently no loyalty check being conducted; that falls under the security sector and the leadership of the military)," the Palace official said.
The Palace spokesperson also noted that while she has no information whether the report has reached the President, she said: But definitely, this information has been given to the President’s security team.