Senator Panfilo “Ping” Lacson warned on Tuesday that intensifying political friction within the Senate, coupled with ongoing economic pressures, could deepen discontent within the armed forces and be exploited for political destabilization.
Lacson revealed he had received unverified reports indicating that frustration within military ranks may be expanding to the battalion and regional levels, fueled by a combination of national controversies and economic hardships.
“As per information, though still sketchy and raw, the level of frustration within the armed services has reached up to battalion and regional levels,” he said in a statement.
According to the senator, members of the military are closely monitoring national developments. These include leadership realignments within the Senate, the ongoing flood control scandal, high inflation, and surging fuel prices—factors he noted are contributing to severe institutional and public strain.
While Lacson pointed out that historical precedents show military interventions lack success without civilian backing, he cautioned that unrest within the ranks remains highly dangerous if leveraged by opportunistic political figures.
“The danger is, if some unscrupulous and power-hungry destabilizers among some aligned political groups would take advantage by fanning the flame of discontent, rightly or wrongly, which could trigger widespread mass movements and protests,” he added.
The warning follows a statement from Acting Senate President Win Gatchalian, who earlier disclosed that the National Bureau of Investigation had alerted him to potential security threats targeting the Senate.