MANILA, Philippines — Some "retired officers" are planning to grab power amid the controversies involving President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and Vice President Sara Duterte, Sen. Panfilo Lacson said on Sunday.
Former representative Zaldy Co had linked Marcos to the flood control fund scandal while Duterte is facing impeachment proceedings for alleged unexplained wealth.
The senator said he received information that the unidentified retired officers are recruiting supporters within the Armed Forces of the Philippines for a possible military-backed "people power revolution."
"There is definitely an attempt but this is outside the AFP. Those behind this could only recruit a few, if at all, from inside the AFP," Lacson said in a radio interview.
"My contacts in the Philippine National Police (PNP) say there is no indication this 'movement' will snowball. But definitely there is an attempt, mostly by retired officers," he said in Filipino and English.
Lacson served in the uniformed service from 1971 to 2001, in both the AFP and PNP. He served as PNP chief from 1999 to 2001.
The Senate president pro tempore believes that the planned takeover would not succeed because the AFP is a professional organization.
"So long as the AFP is professional and I would like to believe it is, there is no compelling reason to have a military junta or another People Power revolution," he said.
