Senator Panfilo “Ping” Lacson said on Sunday, June 14 that whoever is behind the possible destabilization plot involving the 18 former soldiers cannot undermine the professionalism in the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and the Philippine National Police (PNP).

The 18 Marines together with their legal counsel Atty Levi, Baligod, take their oath during the resumption of the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee hearing on the alleged flood control anomaly at the Senate of the Philippines in Pasay City on June 4, 2026. (Mark Balmores)

Lacson noted that they have been effectively disowned by the uniformed services and they have distanced themselves from the ex-soldiers who claimed to have delivered cash in “maletas” (suitcases) to certain personalities linked to the flood control scandal.

“I don't think the AFP and uniformed services have any sympathy for the 18 Maleta Boys. They've been disowned by the Philippine Marines and by the AFP,” said Lacson in an interview on Radio DZBB.

“So if those behind them assume that their antics would trigger something bigger and cause destabilization, I think they are wrong,” he further said.

“Those behind the destabilization attempts should know better than to use the 18 ex-Marines as a rallying point for our Armed Forces. They should know the members of the AFP and PNP better than how they assume they will act. Whoever is behind the destabilization moves should know them better than that,” he added.

He said any possible threat involving the “Maleta Boys” may have been preempted after acting Senate President Sherwin Gatchalian ordered heightened security at the Senate, and authorized employees to work from home.

Nevertheless, the Senate still continues to validate up to now the intelligence information received about such threats.

“We are in the process of assessing and validating it with the help of intelligence units (of our) uniformed services,” Lacson said.

Lacson questioned the entry of the 18 to the Senate last June 8, where instead of attending a Blue Ribbon Committee meeting presided by Sen. Erwin Tulfo that day, went to the office of Sen. Robinhood Padilla to hold a press conference while the Blue Ribbon meeting was ongoing.

He said even the benefactors of the 18 tried to harass Senate Sergeant-at-Arms (Ret) P/Maj. Gen. Alfredo Corpuz just so the 18 could enter the Senate.

Lacson said it is not far-fetched that the 18 may be used to start a commotion inside the Senate, making it a “staging area” and a rallying point for the AFP and PNP.

“They had no intention to attend the hearing chaired by Sen. Erwin Tulfo but why were they there and why did they insist on entering? They even harassed our Sergeant-at-Arms Gen. Corpuz, and insisted on entering - for what? To hold a presscon? The way I assess it, they have a plan,” he pointed out.