Trust earned and guarded: The uncompromising integrity of the AFP

Integrity is the lifeblood of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP). It flows through our service, discipline, and duty to the nation.

Since I took command, I have enforced two non-negotiable principles in the force. The first is servant leadership. The second is that we will never take a cut, token, or favor. Call it a kickback, a porsiyento, or by whatever name it wears — corruption has no place in our ranks. No soldier, officer, or unit under my watch will collect a single peso from any contractor, supplier, or project proponent.

As the President himself thundered in his recent State of the Nation Address: “Huwag na po tayong magkunwari. Alam naman ng buong madla na nagkaka-racket sa mga proyekto… Mga kickback, SOP, for the boys. Mahiya naman kayo!”

The Commander-in-Chief was referring to the corruption that has long plagued public works and infrastructure — particularly flood control projects that were substandard, easily washed away, or worse, ghost projects that existed only on paper. He made it clear that such rackets not only waste funds but also cost lives, as families are swept by floods and communities inherit the debts of these betrayals.

At the very least, it is our duty to serve the people with nothing less than honesty and purity of intent—for public service, in its truest form, is not about gain but about giving.

We are here to serve, never to solicit. That is why I urge everyone: if any member of the AFP asks for money, material favors, or services, report it to me at once. Such conduct will be met with appropriate punishment.

When I was Commanding General of the Philippine Army, I initiated a thorough cleansing of our financial and property records. After this full-scale review, the Commission on Audit (COA) gave us an Unqualified or Clean Opinion—the highest possible rating. This meant our books were clean, complete, and accurate. Our financial statements were in order and presented fairly, with no hidden liabilities or questionable entries. It was the first time in 15 years that the Philippine Army received this distinction. For an institution as large and complex as ours, this was not merely an accounting milestone but proof that transparency and fairness can be achieved.

I am proud that this was not an isolated victory. Today, all major AFP services consistently receive unqualified COA opinions.

When I became the AFP’s first Deputy Chief of Staff for Financial Management (J10) in 2020, I led a campaign to modernize how we handle our finances. We introduced structured training to make our financial managers more professional and accountable. I myself topped the AFP Comptrollership Course, as it was then called, in 2003.

The results speak for themselves. The July 2025 Tugon ng Masa survey by OCTA Research revealed that 81 percent of Filipinos trust the AFP, while 82 percent are satisfied with our performance. These are among the highest ratings across government institutions. These numbers tell us that the Filipino people believe in the AFP’s professionalism, discipline, and hard work.

This, I extend my appreciation to our Commander-in-Chief, President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., and our Defense Secretary, Gilbert “Gibo” Teodoro Jr., whose steadfast leadership inspires us to reach new standards of excellence. But the highest honor belongs to our soldiers, airmen, sailors, and marines. Their everyday courage and sacrifice are the true reason behind these high levels of trust and satisfaction.

It warms my heart that our troops are now recognized for their devotion to duty — in the roar of battle, in the chaos of disaster, and in the quiet watch of protecting our people.

We will take this as both motivation and mandate to serve with even greater valor, compassion, and commitment. This honor is a call to lift our standards even higher, to guard our people better, and to ensure that the Armed Forces of the Philippines will always be worthy of the faith and confidence of the Filipino nation.

To our kababayans: your trust will not be wasted. It will be repaid with service, guarded with integrity, and strengthened by our every action as soldiers of the Filipino people. That is The General Idea.