Lacson: Military-backed 'reset' unconstitutional

Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo Lacson yesterday rejected proposals circulating in the wake of the flood control corruption scandal, including a transition council and a purported military-backed "reset," calling these unconstitutional even as he was reportedly offered a position in a junta being proposed by retired generals.

- By NEIL JAYSON SERVALLOS

While he urged the public to sustain outrage over anomalous flood control projects, Lacson warned that anger must not lead to unconstitutional attempts to change the government's leadership, saying those pushing such ideas should "dream on." "I hope such militarybacked intervention would not happen because nothing good can come out of it," Lacson said in an interview on radio dzBB.

"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," he added.

Asked if he had heard of movements within the military, Lacson said some retired officers had reached out to him, but he refused to engage.

Lacson stressed that leadership changes outside constitutional succession are unacceptable.

He said under the 1987 Constitution, the line of succession ends with the House Speaker — the rationale behind his proposal to establish a “Designated Survivor” mechanism that would extend the line to the most senior members of the Senate and the House.

Lacson also cited the position of the Catholic Church, saying church leaders similarly oppose violent solutions.

He said he recently met with Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines president Pablo Virgilio Cardinal David.