MANILA, Philippines — February 16, 2026. The Philippine Army confirmed that Colonel Audie Mongao will face a general court martial after allegedly withdrawing support from President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. in a social media post.

Army chief Lieutenant General Antonio Nafarrete announced during a press briefing that the investigation conducted by the Training Command (TRACOM) has been completed and probable cause was established to proceed with a trial. 

“Tapos na po ‘yung investigation sa kanya sa [Training Command] and he’s already here for General Court Martial. We are already preparing for it. Nagme-meeting pa ‘yung composition. Meron nang pinirmahan sa composition and it will be malapit na,” Nafarrete said.

Mongao, who was relieved from his post in January, is accused of violating Article of War 63, which penalizes “disrespect toward the President, Vice-President, Congress of the Philippines, or Secretary of National Defense.” The provision states that any officer who uses contemptuous or disrespectful words against these officials may face court martial proceedings.

The controversy began when Mongao posted online that he was withdrawing his personal support for President Marcos Jr., a move that military officials deemed inappropriate and damaging to the chain of command. His statement quickly circulated on social media, prompting the Army to launch a formal investigation.

Nafarrete emphasized that the Army is committed to upholding discipline and the Articles of War. He explained that the composition of the court martial panel has already been signed and preparations are underway for the proceedings. “Right now, tapos na ang investigation sa kanya. He is already here for general court martial. We are preparing for it,” he reiterated.

The case against Mongao is expected to be closely watched, as it touches on issues of military loyalty, discipline, and the boundaries of free expression among uniformed personnel. The Philippine Army has stressed that while soldiers are entitled to personal opinions, public statements that undermine the chain of command or show disrespect to civilian leadership will not be tolerated.

This development underscores the delicate balance between military professionalism and political neutrality, with the court martial proceedings set to determine Mongao’s accountability under military law.