‘Dream on’ — Lacson rejects military-backed reset, junta

Aside from calls from the Makabayan Bloc at the House of Representatives for both President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and Vice President Sara Duterte to resign — proposing Senate President Tito Sotto or House Speaker Bojie Dy to take over while the Lower House passes a bill for a special poll — another option has surfaced: a military-backed reset by means of a junta, which was immediately rejected by Senate President Pro Tempore Senator Panfilo Lacson.

Lacson shunned calls for a junta; however, he said public outrage over the corruption behind anomalous flood control projects must continue, but not at the expense of the Constitution.

He said recent proposals, including the 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,” Lacson said in a radio interview over the weekend.

Last month, the Association of General and Flag Officers, composed of retired senior officers of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, warned against any extra-constitutional moves such as a military junta, calling it a “catastrophic betrayal of democracy,” and expressing “full and unequivocal support” for the Department of National Defense and military leadership in their commitment to constitutional order.

“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,” Lacson said.

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

“Some retired military officers have reached out to me about a civil-military junta. Some even offered that I be part of the ‘council’ after the junta. But I did not entertain them,” he said.

Governance does not pause

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. earlier announced that the wheel of justice is already rolling, saying on Friday that the Department of Public Works and Highways and the Independent Commission have already recommended to the Office of the Ombudsman the filing of possible crimes of plunder, violation of the Anti-Graft and Corruption Practices Act, and direct bribery against former House Speaker Martin Romualdez and resigned Ako Bicol Representative Co.

This was extolled by Dr. Jose Antonio Goitia, the chairman emeritus of four civic-oriented organizations — Alyansa ng Bantay sa Kapayapaan at Demokrasya, People’s Alliance for Democracy and Reforms, Liga Independencia Pilipinas, and Filipinos Do Not Yield Movement — on Sunday.

“And while others push baseless accusations, President Marcos and First Lady Liza Araneta Marcos continue their work quietly, steadily, and with full commitment to the country. Governance does not pause just because some choose to create spectacle. The country continues to move. Challenges remain. And through all the noise, President Marcos keeps working with discipline and clarity. The economy grows. Infrastructure advances. Social services reach more communities. Local governments receive support. International partnerships strengthen,” he said.

“All of this happens because the President refuses to be derailed. Real leaders do not allow noise to dictate their priorities. They serve the people regardless of what others say. Those who build the nation have no time to indulge those who thrive on turmoil,” he added.

Goitia said the First Lady has been drawn into baseless narratives not because of wrongdoing, but because she chooses to rise above political theatrics.

“Marcos Jr.’s wife devotes her time to cultural preservation, education, institutional strengthening, and public service. People attack what they cannot influence. They target her because she stays focused on meaningful work. Her composure frustrates those who rely on chaos. Her silence is not weakness. It is dignity. It is a strength. It is the quiet assurance of someone choosing service over spectacle,” he said.