No loyalty check - AFP chief

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines - Armed Forces Chief of Staff General Pio Catapang has denied that he is condusting a loyalty check as he began his ground unit visitation even as he dispelled an alleged coup plot.

Catapang along with selected joint staffs commander arrived Saturday morning here for their scheduled visit at Western Mindanao Command (Westmincom) where he was briefed by the ground commanders of the latter's ongoing security operations.

“I was asked if my command visit is to conduct loyalty check. I said the soldiers are all loyal to the Republic of the Philippines so there is no need for loyalty check,” Catapang told newsmen after emerging from the brief closed door conference with Westmincom chief Lt. Gen. Rustico Guerrero, Naval Forces Western Mindanao Command (NFWM) Commodore Reynaldo Yoma , and 3rd Air Division chief Maj. Gen. Nicanor Vivar.

Catapang later talked to a handful of soldiers at the grandstand for a brief dialogue.

Catapang said he has to meet the ground soldiers for the first time since his appointment last month as the new APF chief.

“Sa aking pag-iikot parang tulala ang mga sundalo kasi ‘yon na pala ang bagong chief of staff nila,” Catapang said.

The new AFP chief also said that they also discussed with the soldiers the Disbursement Acceleration Program (DAP) and how it was used by the military leadership for a number of projects, including the enhancement of their capability.

“I think they don’t have to ask the questions, the answers will have to come from us, the officers, who know what happened to the DAP given to us,” Catapang added. - Roel Pareño