LACSON REJECTS MILITARY-BACKED ‘RESET,’ JUNTA

PUBLIC  outrage over the corruption behind anomalous flood control projects must continue, but not at the expense of the Constitution, Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson said Sunday.

Lacson said recent proposals such as a so-called “transition council” and a supposed military-backed “reset” are all unconstitutional, and those behind them might as well “dream on.”

“I hope such military-backed intervention would not happen because nothing good can come out of it,” said Lacson.

“There are so many people with active imaginations. During times of crisis like this, we cannot blame them for thinking up extra-legal and unconstitutional ways, perhaps in their passion to change the system because they saw how systemic corruption has become,” he added.

When asked if he had heard of such movements in the military, Lacson said he has received messages from some retired military officials but refused to entertain them.

“Sa akin may nag-udyok (at) gusto civil-military junta. May mga nagme-message retired military hindi ko ibabanggit ang pangalan, dine-dedma ko nga. Meron pang offer maging part ako ng junta, ng council. Kaya dine-dedma ko,” he said.

In rejecting unconstitutional changes of leadership, Lacson pointed out that under the 1987 Constitution, the succession of leadership ends with the House Speaker. He said this was why he filed his “Designated Survivor” bill that extends the line of succession to include the most senior Senate and House member.

Also, Lacson noted that the Catholic Church leadership is not in favor of violence, based on a recent talk he attended with Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines president Cardinal Pablo Virgilio David.

“We had a positive talk because it sought the good of the country and not violence. I am glad that the Catholic Church is also after punishing the corrupt but not favoring violence. After all, what good will violence do for the nation?” he said.

Lacson said there have been positive steps taken by the government in recent days, including the issuance of arrest warrants for ex-Rep. Elizaldy Co and several others.

In the Senate, he said the majority and minority blocs are virtually one in introducing reforms to the budget process to make sure that the 2026 budget is transparent and corruption-free and that the corruption that plagued the budgets from 2023 to 2025 will not be repeated.

Lacson said the 2025 budget was the worst he has seen, as those behind indecent insertions – including the diversion of P50 billion in unprogrammed funds for infrastructure projects in 2024, P30 billion of which went to flood control projects – became too greedy and pushed their luck until the issue exploded.

“The majority and minority in the Senate are virtually one in making sure the 2026 budget will be transparent, so there will be no repeat of the corruption in the budgets from 2023 to 2025,” he said.

Meanwhile, Lacson reiterated the Blue Ribbon Committee, which he chairs, will help the government in going after those behind the anomalous flood control projects by furnishing them with copies of the committee’s findings.

“On the aspect of investigation, we can provide the DOJ and Ombudsman copies of evidence we gathered, even if there is no committee report yet – so they can use the evidence to go after those involved,” he said.