Sen. Panfilo ‘Ping’ M. Lacson on Tuesday appealed to members of the armed services to remain vigilant and discerning against unscrupulous groups that may exploit their concerns and sentiments to destabilize the government by posing as their allies.
The senator, a former National Police chief, made the call as reports swirled of intelligence indicating ‘grave threat’ to the Senate security. The Senate building, which it leases from the GSIS, has been in tension since May 11, when a Senate coup installed Alan Peter Cayetano as Senate President, replacing Sen. Vicente Sotto III. The vote was dramatic because fugitive Sen. Ronald ‘Bato’ dela Rosa, in hiding since November from an arrest warrant by the Intenational Criminal Court (ICC), showed up to cast the swing vote for Cayetano. The NBI tried but failed to arrest him, as Cayetano et al placed him on so-called ‘protective custody.’
On May 13, however, shooting broke out and Cayetano cried out on FB live, ‘The Senate is under attack!’ even though it was learnmed that the Sergeant at Arms, Mao Aplasca, had fired the first shots at apparent NBI men on the other side of a connecting door to the GSIS.
A few hours after the shooting, at dawn of May 14, Dela Rosa escaped from the Senate building and remains missing.
A subsequent attempt by the Cayetano majority to change Senate rules to allow online voting – apparently to favor dela Rosa – sparked a walkout by Sotto’s allies.
The next session day, tension again reigned when the CIDG came to arrest Sen. Jinggoy Estrada, for plunder in the flood-fund scandal, and Cayetano refused to convene the session. The Cayetano majority boycott entered its third day on June 3, when the Senate was scheduled to adjourn sine die until July 28, forcing the Sotto group to convene the session-this time as a majority of 12 senators, joined by Sen. Chiz Escudero.
The Sotto camp then declared all positions vacant and installed Sherwin Gatchalian as Senate President Pro Tempore and Acting Senate President.
Tensions flared anew when the Cayetano bloc, refusing to acknowledge defeat, insisted on holding a Blue Ribbon hearing led by Sen. Rodante Marcoleta, who invited 18 ex-soldiers who were bodyguards/aides of former Rep. Zaldy Co to ‘testify’ on alleged ‘maletas full of cash they delivered to notable politicians.
Lacson said he is not discounting the possibility that 18 ex-soldiers who were brought into the Senate on Monday could be used as part of a broader effort to sow chaos and trigger destabilization.
‘This is a call to our Armed Forces of the Philippines and Philippine National Police to be discerning. Unscrupulous, power-hungry groups and destabilizers are out to take advantage of the confusion or the situation, and may seek to mislead some of our uniformed personnel,’ he said in English and Filipino in a radio interview.
‘I am not saying our uniformed services are unprofessional. But in the middle of confusion, they may mistake unscrupulous groups for their allies,’ he added.
Earlier, Lacson warned that growing frustration within the armed services could pose a risk if it is exploited by unscrupulous and power-hungry destabilizers exploiting national concerns such as the flood control anomalies, inflation and fuel price hikes.
Lacson also noted the 18 ex-soldiers, who initially claimed to deliver suitcases of cash from flood control project kickbacks to certain personalities, wore fatigue uniforms when they entered the Senate Monday.
He cited intelligence information shared by National Bureau of Investigation Director Melvin Matibag that the 18 could be used to generate support from members of the uniformed services, especially since there are anti-government protesters holding rallies daily outside the Senate.
‘For example, the 18 would appear and be cited in contempt and ordered arrested. It is possible that armed elements not from the uniformed services could create confusion and sow chaos – including a possible shooting. You can just imagine the chaos and anarchy, and this can trigger a destabilizing event,’ he said.
For now, he said the 18 could not generate sympathy from the armed forces, especially the Marines, because at least 12 of them were dishonorably discharged. He noted retired Marine Col. Ariel Querubin had virtually disowned them because they considered them a disgrace.
Lacson said such a potential threat prompted Senate President Pro Tempore and acting Senate President Sherwin Gatchalian to place the Senate security under heightened alert, restricting the entry and exit of senators and barring visitors.
Senate employees will work from home on Wednesday, an indication that the ‘threats’ were being taken seriously.