Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo “Ping” Lacson on Monday, November 24, said recent chatter pushing for a “civil-military junta” appears to be part of an “orchestrated” series of events, noting that the timing of former Ako Bicol Rep. Zaldy Co’s explosive allegations fits into the sequence.
Asked directly if Co’s revelations on alleged cash transfers and deliveries to the President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and former House Speaker Martin Romualdez were part of the same political buildup, he replied: “’Yun ang analysis ko, hindi ko sinasabing ‘yun ang hard fact. Kasi series, eh. Parang ang kulo, pagpeperculate, parang mina-maximize para talaga magalit ang mga tao.”
Pressed on who may be orchestrating the unrest, Lacson said only that they were “partisan” groups with clear political interests.
Lacson also confirmed he had received messages from retired police and military officers urging him to join a proposed junta or transition “council,” but said he ignored all attempts to draw him in.
“May mga nagme-message sort of confirming that there is such move, but only on the part of some retired military and PNP officials. Wala namang kumokontak na active,” Lacson said.
“(I was invited) na mag-join at maging part just in case. Ako hindi naman ako nagrereply, talagang as in dedma,” he said.
Lacson said the messaging escalated shortly before the Iglesia ni Cristo (INC) rally and before Co’s public accusations, which he believes contributed to a “coordinated” environment of political tension: “Mukhang coordinated, orchestrated and calibrated.”
According to him, these actors were pushing for a “total reset” that would bypass both the President and the Vice President: “Talagang reset. Ang ibang groups nagko-call sila ng total reset: parang wala ang Presidente, wala ang Vice President, maski ang succession hindi pupwede so civil military junta.”
Lacson stressed that he refused to engage not only because the proposal was unconstitutional but because responding could open the door to deeper discussions.
“Unconstitutional. Hindi sa hindi ako pumayag, hindi ako nagrereply, hindi ako sumasagot, kaya nga dedma. Kasi kung magrereply ka, may diskusyon pa,” he said.
The senator cautioned that military takeovers “very seldom” lead to positive outcomes: “Very seldom tayo makarinig ng military junta na maganda ang kinalabasan and I don’t think it will apply ang good results or outcome, mangyayari dito.”
He rejected the notion that the government is already unstable, instead saying some groups are exploiting the perception of instability.
Lacson cited attempts by unknown individuals to infiltrate the INC rally with plans “to march to Malacañang,” which INC leaders blocked.
