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.
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 an interview on DZMM radio.
“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.
In Filipino: Lacson, Nanawagan sa Sandatahang Lakas: Maging Mapagmatyag at Mapanuri vs Taktika ng mga Posibleng Destabilizer
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.
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Lacson, Nanawagan sa Sandatahang Lakas: Maging Mapagmatyag at Mapanuri vs Taktika ng mga Posibleng Destabilizer
Nanawagan si Sen. Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson nitong Martes sa mga miyembro ng sandatahang lakas na manatiling mapagmatyag at mapanuri laban sa mga mapagsamantalang grupo na maaaring samantalahin ang kanilang mga hinaing at saloobin upang isulong ang destabilisasyon ng pamahalaan sa pamamagitan ng pagpapanggap na kanilang mga kaalyado.
Ani Lacson, hindi niya isinasantabi ang posibilidad na ang 18 dating sundalo na dinala sa Senado noong Lunes ay maaaring magamit bilang bahagi ng mas malawak na plano upang maghasik ng kaguluhan at magpasimula ng destabilisasyon.
“Kaya parang panawagan na rin ito sa ating mga Armed Forces natin, sa Philippine National Police, maging discerning sila. Kasi kung unscrupulous yung mga tao na merong mga power-hungry, yung destabilizers na magte-take advantage sa confusion o kaya sa situation, baka may madala na mag-react sa ating armed forces,” aniya sa panayam sa DZMM.
“Hindi ko sinasabing hindi sila professional pero alam mo, in the middle of confusion, pwedeng akalain nila na kasamahan nila yung nandyan sa loob ng Senado,” dagdag niya.
Nauna nang nagbabala si Lacson na ang lumalaking frustration sa hanay ng sandatahang lakas ay maaaring magdulot ng panganib kung ito ay sasamantalahin ng mga mapagsamantala at makapangyarihang destabilizer na ginagamit ang mga pambansang usapin tulad ng mga anomalya sa flood control, implasyon, at pagtaas ng presyo ng langis.
Binanggit din ni Lacson na ang 18 dating sundalo, na unang nagsabing naghatid umano sila ng mga maleta ng salapi mula sa kickback ng mga proyekto sa flood control para sa ilang personalidad, ay nakasuot ng fatigue uniforms nang pumasok sila sa Senado noong Lunes.
Tinukoy niya ang intelligence information na ibinahagi ni National Bureau of Investigation Director Melvin Matibag na maaaring gamitin ang 18 upang makakuha ng suporta mula sa mga miyembro ng uniformed services, lalo na’t may mga anti-government protesters na araw-araw na nagsasagawa ng mga rally sa labas ng Senado.
“Halimbawa, nag-appear yung labing walo. At sa pagsisinungaling, o kaya hindi nag-attend, eh pina-cite for contempt. At pagkatapos in-order na i-arrest. So, possibly mangyari yung may mga armed elements, not necessarily from the uniformed services, kung hindi mga sibilyan, ang manggugulo doon. At pagka nagkagulo-gulo, nagkaroon na naman ang putukan, you can just imagine the chaos at saka yung anarchy na mangyayari. At pwede mag-trigger ito,” aniya.
Sa ngayon, sinabi niyang mahirap makakuha ng simpatya mula sa sandatahang lakas ang 18, lalo na mula sa Marines, dahil hindi bababa sa 12 sa kanila ang dishonorably discharged mula sa serbisyo. Aniya, halos itinakwil na rin sila ni retired Marine Col. Ariel Querubin dahil itinuturing silang kahihiyan ng kanilang hanay.
Ani Lacson, dahil sa naturang potensyal na banta, inilagay ni Senate President Pro Tempore at acting Senate President Sherwin Gatchalian sa heightened alert ang seguridad ng Senado, kabilang ang paghihigpit sa pagpasok at paglabas ng mga senador at pagbabawal muna sa mga bisita.
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