Beyond the Noise: The Truth About AFP Pensions

General Romeo S. Brawner Jr., PA, Chief of Staff, Armed Forces of the Philippines

Another wave of disinformation is making the rounds online — this time claiming that President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. has “threatened to remove the AFP pension” of retirees. Many have shared it out of concern or confusion, and that is understandable. After all, a soldier’s pension is more than a monthly allowance — it is a reflection of years spent in service and sacrifice. When someone attacks that symbol, it stirs not only fear, but pain.

As we have formally clarified in the Armed Forces of the Philippines, there is no directive, plan, or statement from the President or the Department of National Defense to remove or reduce the pension of our retirees. The story circulating online is a complete fabrication.

Why would our Commander-in-Chief do such a thing? Why would the same President who has consistently honored, supported, and empowered our uniformed services suddenly turn his back on them? The answer is simple: he wouldn’t, and he hasn’t.

From the first day of his administration, the President has shown genuine respect for all men and women in public service who perform their duties with integrity. Under his leadership, the AFP has seen record investments in modernization and professionalization. Equipment is being upgraded, facilities are being built, and benefits are being improved — not reduced.

In fact, we have ensured the timely release of salaries, allowances, and pensions not as a favor, but as a fulfillment of the government’s promise to those who serve. The reforms being discussed are meant to strengthen the sustainability of these benefits — to make sure that future generations of soldiers will continue to receive what they have earned through courage and sacrifice. Our pensioners, too, are not being forgotten but protected.

By law, revoking a pension simply cannot happen. A military pension is an earned right protected by Republic Act No. 11709 and Presidential Decree No. 1638 (AFP Retirement and Separation Decree of 1979), which clearly define only three lawful grounds for forfeiture: 1. Conviction by final judgment for a crime involving moral turpitude or an offense against the State; 2. Loss of Filipino citizenship; and, 3. Refusal to perform active duty when lawfully recalled.

Even then, such forfeiture must be judicially determined — meaning it requires a final court or court-martial judgment. Neither the President, the Secretary of National Defense, nor the AFP Chief of Staff can unilaterally withdraw or suspend a pension through administrative action. The law protects these benefits as vested property rights, and the Constitution upholds them through due process, non-impairment of contracts, and civilian supremacy provisions.

Each year, the pension fund is written into the General Appropriations Act (GAA), so payments continue automatically under the law. Under President Bongbong Marcos, the defense budget has, in fact, expanded — sustaining higher funding for salaries, allowances, and pensions — which is proof of his renewed commitment to those who have served.

I say this with certainty because I have seen, up close, how hard our soldiers work and how much they give for the country. Many of them miss birthdays, weddings, and milestones. Some never make it home. Their pension is not charity — it is recognition, a nation’s promise that we do not forget those who carried the weight of its peace.

So why do false stories like this spread? In today’s fast-moving online world, lies travel faster than truth because they are designed to provoke. They use anger as fuel and outrage as bait. And when we share them without checking, we unwittingly become part of the machinery that erodes trust in our own institutions.

That is why I urge everyone — from soldiers to veterans to civilians — to pause before we post. Let us verify before we vilify. Discipline is not only about following orders in the field; it is also about being responsible in the digital space. Every share, comment, and post has an effect. The truth needs defenders too.

Another concern, however, is when misinformation comes not from anonymous accounts, but from people in positions of authority. Public officials have a moral duty to speak with prudence and accuracy. When leaders spread unverified claims, they do not only misinform — they divide. They plant distrust where solidarity should stand.

The AFP calls on anyone tempted to make political capital out of fear to reflect on the gravity of their words. We welcome constructive dialogue and oversight — always. What we cannot accept is deliberate distortion that undermines the morale of the very men and women who defend our Republic. Responsible leadership begins with truth.

Let me also address another narrative that has emerged from this controversy — the claim that the government can or will remove the pensions of retirees who criticize the administration. That, too, is false. The AFP will never punish dissent or silence legitimate opinion. What is being examined, through proper legal channels, is whether certain individuals — retired officers or otherwise — have used their rank and influence to spread disinformation or to incite unrest against the state.

Freedom of speech is a right, but rights come with responsibility. When someone uses the prestige of their uniform to spread lies that endanger public order, that is no longer opinion — that is betrayal. Accountability does not retire with the uniform. The oath we took to protect the Constitution and defend the Filipino people remains binding long after we hang up our fatigues.

As our spokesperson, Colonel Francel Margareth Padilla, rightly said: “The AFP is studying the matter carefully. If legal findings show grounds for action, then we will follow due process.” We emphasize due process — because that is how a professional organization operates: guided by evidence, not emotion; by law, not loudness.

To our soldiers and pensioners reading this — your benefits are safe. The government has repeatedly affirmed its promise to sustain and protect the pension system. President Marcos has directed our economic managers to ensure its long-term viability so that every generation of soldiers will receive what they rightfully deserve.

To our fellow citizens — help us defend the truth. Do not allow those who profit from division to succeed. Verify before you believe. Support the institutions that keep your freedom secure. The AFP does not ask for blind loyalty — only for fairness, for facts, and for faith in our collective future.

In the end, this issue is not just about pensions — it is about principle, honor, and truth. No lie can weaken an institution built on sacrifice. Integrity, like freedom, is not taken by force; it is surrendered by choice. As long as I wear this uniform, that surrender will never come.

That is The General Idea.