Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo Lacson said groups largely composed of retired military officers are attempting to rally support within the uniformed services for a possible military-backed “people power” movement amid ongoing political controversies.
In a radio interview, Lacson said intelligence reports point to efforts to recruit active personnel from the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), though he stressed these appear limited and unlikely to gain traction.
“Medyo definite, meron talagang nag-a-attempt pero sa labas ng AFP. Kung meron man sa loob, mangilan-ngilan siguro na nare-recruit,” he said, noting that most of the efforts are being led by retired officers.
He added that there is no indication the alleged movement is gaining support within the Philippine National Police (PNP) or evolving into a broader destabilization effort.
“Pero definitely, may nag-a-attempt, karamihan ang mga retired officers,” Lacson said.
Despite the reports, Lacson expressed confidence that such efforts would not succeed, citing the professionalism of the country’s armed forces.
A former military and police officer who served from 1971 to 2001 and led the PNP from 1999 to 2001, Lacson said he sees no strong indication that the situation will escalate.
He reiterated his opposition to unconstitutional changes in leadership, stressing that public dissatisfaction must be addressed within the framework of the Constitution.
Last year, he rejected proposals for a military-backed “reset” amid corruption allegations, warning against extra-constitutional actions.
Lacson has also pushed for reforms in the line of succession under the 1987 Constitution, filing a measure to expand the “designated survivor” concept beyond the House Speaker to ensure continuity of government leadership in emergencies.
The reported recruitment efforts come amid heightened political tensions involving allegations against President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and impeachment complaints against Vice President Sara Duterte, along with separate issues involving other senior officials.
Lacson emphasized that attempts to destabilize the government outside constitutional means are unlikely to succeed as long as institutions remain stable and professional.