A former miitary chief of staff has spurned former President Rodrigo Duterte's call for the military to "correct" the "fractured governance" of his successor, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. 

Palace tells Rodrigo Duterte to respect constitution after call for AFP to correct 'fractured governance'

Retired Army general Dionisio Santiago, who also served in the Duterte Cabinet as Dangerous Drugs Board chief, said the country will not benefit if the Armed Forces decides to break the chain of command and follow Duterte.

"Ano mapapala namin? Will it help the country kung madadamay pa kami sa gulo? Kung makikigulo ang military ay patay tayo. Sigurado ba tayo na pag military ang nag-take-over we can run the government better? Wala tayong assurance nun. Masyadong malaking gamble 'yun. Maghintay tayo ng eleksyon," he said in a TeleRadyo Serbisyo interview. 

He rejected talk that the military should follow Duterte because he increased the salaries of military and police personnel. 

"The military, just like you, we are thinking people. Hindi naman kami irrational na tao. Sinasabi in-increase 'yung salary. Thank you pero there's a limit sa pag-appreciate namin. In-increase 'yung salary namin pero...papayagin namin kung ano lang gawin 'yung gustong gawin? May limit 'yun."

Santiago said the Philippine military has learned its lesson after its leaders backed previous uprisings such as the 1986 People Power Revolution that ousted President Ferdinand Marcos and the 2001 EDSA Dos revolt that toppled President Joseph Estrada. 

"Nadala na rin kami. Nakialam kami, anong nangyari sa bayan natin? May nangyari ba? Ganun din," he said.

He said that while the former president will always have his supporters, active military officers will always follow the constitutional mandate. 

"Pinapagulo na lang nila ang bayan. Actually nakakasama sa kanila 'yan, ini-entice mo ang military, nananahimik 'yang mga 'yan. May naka-usap akong isang high ranking military…ang sabi, basta kami sa Constitution."

"Wala kayong magagawa sa military. Kapag sinabing constitutional mandate, ang susundan niyan is the commander in chief...Kung gusto mong sundan ka, mag-presidente ka ulit."

"In the end, what prevails to the military people is the common good, the greater good. Hindi kami pumasok sa serbisyo para mag-serbisyo ng personal interest, individual interest."

He also rejected talk of a loyalty check after Duterte's call, saying the loyalties of officials such as former national police chief Ronald dela Rosa are already known. 

"The military is a thinking military, hindi naman kami puro bobo dun."