Philippines rejects coup fears after vote to remove vice president

The Philippine government has dismissed concerns about potential military involvement in political instability following moves to remove Vice President Sara Duterte-Carpio from office, with Defence Secretary Gilberto Teodoro stating there is no threat from the armed forces.

Addressing the issue, Teodoro said: “With regard to the main body of the armed forces, we are currently not observing any [such activity], we are monitoring developments. <...> There is no threat in the army,” according to the Manila Standard.

He also dismissed the possibility of destabilisation efforts involving retired military personnel, emphasising that “they have no influence on the [active] army,” are free to “express their opinion,” and “have different priorities now.”

Separately, presidential spokesperson Claire Castro said the government “have no information about a conspiracy against the government.” She added that authorities are aware of the sources behind rumours of potential destabilisation and urged the public to remain vigilant and avoid believing false claims.

The political tensions come after the House of Representatives of the Philippines voted to support a petition to remove Duterte-Carpio from office. A total of 255 out of 316 lawmakers backed the measure, which will now proceed to the Senate for a final decision.

Critics of Duterte-Carpio have accused her of failing to uphold public trust, citing alleged misuse of discretionary powers between late 2022 and the third quarter of 2023. The allegations focus on the handling of confidential funds allocated to the Office of the Vice President and the Department of Education — specialised government budget resources intended for intelligence-related activities. According to the accusations, approximately $10.5 million was misused.

The Senate is now expected to review the case and determine whether to uphold or reject the proposed removal.

By Tamilla Hasanova