Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo "Ping" Lacson has thumbed down rather wild suggestions of a civil-military junta to supposedly reset the government amid public outrage over the anomalous flood control projects.

"I hope such military-backed intervention would not happen because nothing good can come out of it," Lacson said in mixed Filipino and English in a radio interview over the weekend.

The former Philippine National Police (PNP) chief said that while Filipinos should stay angry over the massive corruption scandal, things shouldn't devolve into violence and unconstitutional action.

"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 noted.

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

"Sa akin may nag-udyok (at) gusto civil-military junta. May mga nagme-message retired military hindi ko ibabanggit ang pangalan, dine-dedma ko nga. Meron pang offer maging part ako ng junta, ng council. Kaya dine-dedma ko (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.

Lacson pointed out that under the 1987 Constitution, the succession of leadership follows the President to the Vice President, to Senate President, and finally to the House Speaker.

He said this was why he filed his "Designated Survivor" bill that extends the line of succession to include the most senior Senate and House member.

Also, Lacson noted that the Catholic Church leadership wa not in favor of violence, based on a recent talk he attended with Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) President Cardinal Pablo Virgilio David.

"We had a positive talk because it sought the good of the country and not violence. I am glad that the Catholic Church is also after punishing the corrupt but not favoring violence. After all, what good will violence do for the nation?" he said.

On the other hand, Lacson said there have been positive steps taken by the government in recent days, including the issuance of arrest warrants for former Ako-Bicol Party-list representative Zaldy Co and several others.

Co is a central figure in the flood control projects mess. However, investigative hasn't been able to get a hold of him since he is in hiding abroad.