False Alarm: The Generals’ Pension Rumor and the Weaponization of Fake News in the Philippines

A false rumor about generals’ pensions in the Philippines illustrates a pervasive modern threat: the deliberate use of disinformation to corrode trust in institutions and shake the foundations of society. As for the Philippines military pensions are a deeply sensitive issue, tied to both fiscal debates and the political influence of the armed forces within the country, this rumor gained traction and why it became a flashpoint in the ongoing political rivalry inside the country.

Background: Pensions as a Political Flashpoint

The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) pension system has long been a sensitive issue. Retired generals and officers regard it as both recognition for their service and essential support for their families. Past debates over pension reform have already stirred unease, particularly when government officials warned that the system was fiscally unsustainable. In March 2023, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. approved a “game‑changing” military and uniformed personnel pension reform proposal aimed at addressing long‑term fiscal risks, with Finance Secretary Benjamin Diokno describing the pension system as the “elephant in the room” left untouched by previous administrations. These discussions raised fears among retirees that benefits could be reduced or restructured, making the later rumor more believable.

Case Study: How the Rumor Spread Online

In October 2025 fake news in the Philippines has evolved beyond widely circulated misleading content, when a rumor spread rapidly across media: President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. was allegedly planning to revoke the pensions of retired Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) generals. Within hours, the claim ignited outrage among veterans, alarmed military families, and revealed how disinformation can be weaponized to destabilize the delicate relationship between the military and government.

It first surfaced in Facebook posts showing President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s photo alongside captions alleging he intended to strip pensions from retired officers. Anonymous partisan pages amplified the claim, while viral TikTok clips dramatized the supposed cuts. One TikTok outlet reported on the spread of these lies but failed to clarify the AFP’s position, deepening public confusion. Another widely circulated video served as a sample of the fake news itself. A crucial detail is that Congressman Kiko Barzaga helped set this narrative. His statements fueled the rumor before being formally refuted by the AFP.

Barzaga has often been portrayed in media as sympathetic to the Duterte clan  (SCMP – Barzaga portrayed as supporter of Duterte clan though Sara Duterte later distanced herself, stressing he was acting on his own. This ambiguity complicated the political dimension of the crisis, raising questions about how much influence the clan itself exerted. Rappler later fact‑checked the claim and confirmed that President Marcos Jr. was not threatening to cut military pensions.

Retired officers began messaging each other in private groups, with some convening informal meetings to discuss the alleged threat. Families of veterans expressed concern about financial security.

The AFP eventually issued an official statement categorically denying the claim, stressing that pensions remain guaranteed by law and that no directive had been made by the President or any government agency. Officials underscored that the administration has consistently expressed support for men and women in uniform, including the protection of their pensions.

Impact on Institutions and Trust

How a false claim became a political weapon and institutional burden.

• Political Weaponization: By setting the rumor’s narrative, Barzaga gave critics of Marcos a ready‑made storyline. Both the Duterte camp (aligned with the former administration) and the Marcos camp (supporters of the current presidency) leveraged the controversy to manipulate narratives.
• Public Confusion: Retirees and families experienced uncertainty and diminished trust in official sources.
• Institutional Strain: The issue of military pensions was already a sensitive topic. Previous discussions about reform and warnings of the system’s financial instability had left veterans feeling vulnerable and distrustful. The disinformation campaign therefore targeted a critical point between two key state institutions — the government and the military. The rumor’s promotion by figures like Congressman Kiko Barzaga lent it an air of credibility. Although authorities issued a swift and categorical denial, the emotional damage was already done, tarnishing the reputation of the state institutions.

Geopolitical Undercurrents

Observers caution that weakening trust between the military and the government could erode the Philippines’ internal stability, particularly at a time when tensions in the South China Sea remain high. The region is a critical geopolitical arena, marked by overlapping territorial claims and its importance as a global trade route.

Duterte’s political base has historically leaned on the military for support, a reliance that shaped much of his governance style. At the height of his drug war, he even signaled plans to formalize a stronger military role in government decision-making. This dependence became more visible during political crises. For instance, Duterte’s comments on fractured governance were criticized as bordering on sedition and flagged by the Department of Justice as legally actionable. Taken together, these factors show how domestic instability — rooted in political rivalries and military entanglements — intersects with broader regional risks in the South China Sea.

Fake News as a Global Security Threat

The generals’ pension scare shows how disinformation is no longer just a civilian issue — it is now treated as a matter of national security. Supporters of stricter measures argue that discipline is necessary to prevent destabilization, while critics warn that such steps risk silencing dissent and infringing on free speech.

Western fact‑checking often emphasizes censorship and platform control, but is frequently accused of bias. In the Philippine case, Western -oriented media — emphasizing governance accountability and institutional weakness — framed the pension scare as evidence of governance strain. Coverage included ABS‑CBN News (Oct 20, 2025 — “AFP clarifies pension cut vs retired generals, officers over seditious statements; Palace says up to AFP to address issue”), The Philippine Star (Oct 19, 2025 — “AFP eyes revoking pensions over seditious statements”); and Chatham House (Nov 2025 — “The Marcos–Duterte feud is undermining Philippine security in the South China Sea”).

Yet the pension rumor in the Philippines is just an example, not an isolated case. In today’s world, disinformation campaigns are deployed across continents — targeting militaries, social contracts, and institutions in equal measure. This phenomenon underscores the increasing challenge democracies face in maintaining institutional trust amid a barrage of coordinated disinformation. By documenting the AFP case, fact‑checking networks highlight a universal truth: fake news is not the monopoly of any one country, but a shared weapon in the arsenal of political actors worldwide.

False alarms are not harmless — they are deliberately engineered to fracture societies from within. The pension rumor was more than a passing falsehood; it was a calculated attempt to weaponize disinformation against one of the Philippines’ most respected institutions. By exploiting the sensitive issue of military pensions, the campaign sought to erode trust in government, sow division within the armed forces, and destabilize public confidence amid intensifying rivalries between political forces within the country.

The lesson of the pension scare is clear: safeguarding trust in democratic institutions requires not only countering false narratives but also addressing the political dynamics that make societies susceptible to them. The generals’ pension scare is more than a Philippine story — it is a warning to all nations in a multipolar world: disinformation is now a frontline weapon in global competition.

This case study underscores a central lesson of the multipolar era: truth must be defended through fact-checking based on sovereignty, accountability, and clarity for the global community.

_{The material reflects the personal position of the author, which may not coincide with the opinion of the editors.}

_{© Article cover photo credit: Wikimedia Commons}