November 19, 2025
MANILA – The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) on Tuesday said the protest action led by military retirees could be foreign-funded, an accusation which the organizers objected to.
Acting AFP spokesperson Rear Adm. Roy Vincent Trinidad noted the “unusual support system” of the United People’s Initiative rally over the weekend.
“We are checking all possible leads, especially when it comes to funding, if these were done by domestic or maybe, even— for all we know—foreign groups,” Trinidad said in a military press conference.
He further said the AFP is bolstering its efforts to ensure that “domestic concerns will remain domestic and will not be influenced by foreign funding.”
“It was organized. It was grand,” he also said, further noting that there was even catered food provided for attendees.
Retired Maj. Gen. Romeo Poquiz, founder and lead convenor of UPI, took exception to Trinidad’s remarks, saying in a Facebook post: “What foreign funding? We can’t even feed everyone who attended our rally.”
The UPI is a group composed mainly of retired military and police officials.
Calls to withdraw AFP support for Marcos
Among UPI’s calls were for President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to step down amid alleged corruption in flood control and other infrastructure projects.
Despite this, UPI organizers said there are no destabilization efforts in their rally.
However, during the UPI rally on Sunday, Sonshine Media Network International host Jeffrey Celiz called on the AFP to withdraw its support from the chief executive, citing the military’s withdrawal of support from Joseph Estrada during the 2001 EDSA revolt, which led to the latter’s ouster.
Based on such remarks, Quezon City’s Department of Public Order and Safety did not allow UPI to conduct its Tuesday rally.
“Several personalities who spoke on stage incited the participants of the activity… to the accomplishment of any acts of sedition, rebellion or insurrection,” stated the Nov. 17 letter signed by Ret. Police General Elmo DG San Diego, the agency’s department head.
Trinidad also slammed those who called on the AFP to take unconstitutional actions that would divide the country.
“When you have one AFP, you have one Philippines,” Trinidad said. “When you have a strong AFP, you have a strong Philippines.”
Bigger picture
Trinidad further said that the country should not forget the “bigger picture,” saying neighboring countries — which he later identified as China — would want the Philippines to be divided.
Trinidad, who is also the Philippine Navy spokesperson for the West Philippine Sea, noted that the China Communist Party’s United Front Work Department (UFWD) is very active in the Philippines.
Among UFWD’s purposes is to gain influence over elite individuals and organizations outside mainland China.
“We have seen a lot of infiltration in our society. We don’t have to look far. Part of their rule book is to make us fight among ourselves, to infiltrate Philippine society and to destroy us from within,” Trinidad said.
“Let us not be distracted from the bigger picture,” he added. “This is more pressing and more frightening.”