Palace flags potential foreign-funded rallies as ‘treason’

By Darryl John Esguerra, Philippine News Agency

VIOLENT PROTEST. Police brace against masked protesters in Manila as rallies against corruption turned violent, with rocks, bottles, and fire used against barricades in areas near Malacañang on Sept. 21, 2025. The Palace said Thursday (Nov. 20, 2025) the Philippine government is closely monitoring reports of possible foreign-funded political rallies. (PNA file photo by Avito Dalan)

MANILA – Betrayal of the Philippines.

This is how Malacañang described reports that some anti-government rallies in the country could be backed by foreign funding.

Presidential Communications Office Undersecretary Claire Castro said Thursday that the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) is closely monitoring developments, in coordination with the Philippine National Police.

The AFP earlier disclosed that it is looking into the possibility of foreign entities funding recent anti-government protest actions in the country.

“Kung ito man ay may katotohanan, kapuwa Pilipino kung, again, kung may katotohanan at makikita po sa kanilang pag-iimbestiga na foreign-funded itong kanilang isinasagawang rally, masasabi po nating ito ay pagtataksil sa bayan (If this is true that our fellow Filipinos are behind foreign-funded anti-government rallies, it may be considered treason),” Castro said.

“Hindi po nararapat ito na pinanghihimasukan tayo ng ibang bansa. Ang politika natin ay mukhang pinanghihimasukan na ng ibang bansa, so, hindi po maganda (It is not appropriate for foreign entities to interfere in our affairs. Our politics seems to be influenced by other countries, which is not good).”

The military’s disclosure follows a recent United People’s Initiative (UPI) rally led by retired military personnel at the EDSA People Power Monument in Quezon City, which called for President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s resignation and urged the AFP to withdraw support from the government.