NAKIPAGPULONG ang apat na malalaking grupo ng mga retiradong sundalo kay Speaker Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez upang ipahayag ang pananatili ng suporta nito kay Pangulong Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. at sa liderato ng Senado at Kamara de Representantes.

Dumalo sa pakikipagpulong kay Speaker Romualdez ang 22 retiradong heneral. Ang pulong ay pinangunahan ng Philippine Military Academy Alumni Association (PMAAAI), Association of Generals and Flag Officers (AGFO), Philippine Military Academy Retirees Association Inc. (PMARAI), at National ROTC Alumni Association, Inc. (NARAAI).

Sinabi ng mga retiradong heneral kay Speaker Romualdez na walang katotohanan ang kumakalat sa social media na ang PMA alumni at iba pang grupo ng retirado mula sa hanay ng AFP ay sumusuporta sa destabilsasyon laban sa administrasyong Marcos.

“We are all here today, united, to air our support to President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. his administration and the leadership of the House of Representatives and the Senate,” ani retired Admiral Danilo Abinoja, chairman at CEO ng PMAAAI.

“We continue to abide by and vow to defend the Constitution, and the duly-constituted authorities. That is our oath, then and until now,” sabi nito.

Sinabi rin ni Abinoja kay Speaker Romualdez na hindi lamang ang PMA ang military school na sumusuporta sa administrasyong Marcos kundi maging ang mga eskuwelahan ng mga servicemen para sa Navy, Air Force, at Coast Guard.

“In fact, the Association of Service Academies of the Philippines is issuing a manifesto of support to President Marcos and his administration,” sabi ng retiradong admiral.

Sinabi naman ni retired Maj. Gen. Marlou Salazar, Vice President ng NARRAI, na tutol ang kanilang grupo sa destabilisasyon at sila ay naniniwala na ang katatagan ng gobyerno ang susi ng kapayapaan at pag-unlad ng bansa.

“Ayaw naming magkagulo. A kingdom should not be divided if we want it to succeed,” sabi ni Salazar.

Ayon naman kay retired Gen. Raul Gonzales, chairman ng PMARAI, tutol ang kanilang grupo sa mga hakbang upang guluhin at pahinain ang gobyerno.

“We support the sentiments of the PMA alumni here today and we are duty-bound to defend the Constitution even now that we are out of service. Some have different beliefs, but the general membership is united in defending this government,” sabi ni Gonzales.

Ipinakita rin ni Gonzales kay Speaker Romualdez ang kopya ng isang resolusyon ng PMA Class ’75, kung saan siya ang class president, na kumokondena sa tangka na sayangin ang naabot ng kasalukuyang administrasyon.

“In the light of the numerous misinformation and propaganda prevalent in the social media that tend to polarize certain groups in our communities, our class would like to manifest in the compelling terms, that we stand in unanimity and conformity with the duly constituted authorities, and to obey the laws, legal orders, and decrees promulgated by them,” sabi sa resolusyon.

Iginit din ni retired Gen. Gerry Doria, Vice Chairman ng AGFO, ang pagsuporta ng kanyang grupo kay Pangulong Marcos at nagkakaisa umano sila na suportahan ang iniluklok ng publiko.

Nagpasalamat naman si Speaker Romualdez sa mga retiradong heneral sa kanilang pagpunta sa kanyang tanggapan upang ipahayag ang kanilang saloobin.

“We, in the House of Representatives, are happy to receive you here and listen to you. Words are not enough to express our gratitude to all of you. We are always sensitive, responsive and reflective of what you have to say even after you left the service,” sabi ni Speaker Romualdez.

“Now that you are civilians, you have the whole perspective from outside given the years of service that you have given to the nation. We value all that you share here today,” dagdag pa nito.