Metro Manila, Philippines – “Coordinated, orchestrated, and calibrated.”
That’s how Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo “Ping” Lacson described active efforts by certain groups to oust President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., with some even pushing for a whole-of-government reset.
Over the weekend, Lacson disclosed that retired military and police officials had approached him to join a so-called “civil-military junta” aimed at toppling the administration.
Under the proposed junta, Lacson said not only would President Marcos be replaced, but also the entire constitutional line of succession, including the vice president, Senate president, and House speaker.
Lacson said he ignored the offer, calling the plot unconstitutional.
“Hindi naman ako nagrereply. Talagang as in dedma [I didn’t reply. I really just ignored it],” Lacson said in a chance interview with reporters on Monday, Nov. 24.
Asked when this happened, Lacson said there was a series of events, which escalated before the Iglesia Ni Cristo rally for transparency and accountability amid the flood control scandal last week, and when former Rep. Zaldy Co released video statements.
Co, who has been abroad since the flood control corruption scandal broke, accused President Marcos and his cousin, former House Speaker Martin Romualdez, of ordering P100 billion in budget insertions and receiving kickbacks from flood control projects — allegations both officials have denied.
“Nag-escalate noong before the INC rally, nag-escalate noong lumabas si Zaldy Co, tapos hindi ko alam kung meron pa nung after ng speech ni Senator Imee [Marcos],” Lacson shared.
[Translation: It escalated before the INC rally, it escalated when Zaldy Co released his statements, and I don’t know if there was more after Senator Imee [Marcos]’s speech.]
Senator Imee Marcos, who made a surprise appearance at the INC rally last Sunday, linked her brother and the first family to illegal drug use.
Lacson maintained the government is stable, but some groups are exploiting public perceptions of instability.
‘Banana Republic’
Senate President Vicente “Tito” Sotto III warned that any junta would violate the Constitution and plunge the country into chaos.
“Mob rule and military adventurism are not good alternatives to Elections and Constitutionalism. It will reset us to a banana republic, back to square one in the democratic scale,” he said.
“The Rule of Law and Due Process are the best policies for the long game to real progress. Shortcuts will lead us to a rocky road towards anarchy and uncertainty,” he added.
Senator Erwin Tulfo believes such moves are unlikely to gain traction without broad support from the church or civil society.
“Why don’t we wait three more years naman lang? 2028, elections na. Tapos may ginagawa naman ho. Buti sana kung inuupuan lang yung kaso,” Tulfo said, referring to the flood control scandal.
[Translation: Why don’t we just wait three more years? The elections are in 2028. And something is already being done. It’s not as if the authorities are doing nothing.]
“Pero sana nga lang, mahuli na po lahat yan, Kasi parang medyo mabagal na po. Kailangan siguro bilis-bilisan. Kasi naiinip na rin yung taumbayan,” he added.
[Translation: But hopefully, everyone will be caught. Because it’s kind of slow. Maybe they need to speed things up. The public is also getting impatient.]
