Lacson: No reason good enough for military takeover

While a coup attempt is always a “possibility,” Senator Panfilo Lacson said he sees no “good enough” reason for the military to take over the newly installed leadership of President Rodrigo Duterte.

“In a country like ours, coup is always a possibility. Depende sa (It depends on the) developing situations,” Lacson said during the regular Kapihan sa Senado on Thursday.

With Duterte’s promise to double the pay of the military, the senator said no one would probably think of supporting a coup plot against the President.

“Saka wala namang nakikitang pang (And there’s still no) good enough reason para magkaroon ng (for) destabilization. In the first place, unprecedented din yung popularity ratings nya (his popularity ratings are unprecedented). Wala pang nakakuha ng (No one has received) 91 percent.” Lacson said.

He was reacting to Duterte’s joke that the military need not launch a coup against him, saying they could just ask him to leave Malacañang.

“I hope you won’t get mad if we’re doing the right thing. You might launch a coup d’etat and I would be out of a job. Do not launch a coup d’etat, just call me in Malacañang and say, ‘Hoy, Duterte, leave your office, we will take over,’” the President was quoted as saying when he visited the wounded soldiers at AFP Medical Center in Quezon City on Tuesday night.

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While the President still enjoys the support of the majority of Filipinos, Lacson cautioned Duterte’s administration as it has the tendency to be “more carefree and careless.”

“Baka ‘yung mga problema would catch up with them, especially ‘yung ginagawa ng PNP (Philippine National Police)…Ayaw ko naman talagang magkasabit-sabit sila. So ok lang yung may accomplishment but dapat may caution,” the senator added.

(The problem might catch up with them, especially with what the PNP is doing. I don’t want them to get into trouble. It’s good to have accomplishments, but there should also be caution.)

Lacson headed the PNP during the time of former President and now Manila Mayor Joseph Estrada. CDG/rga