MANILA — Sen. Panfilo “Ping” Lacson on Sunday said that those allegedly behind a possible destabilization effort involving the so-called “18 Maleta Boys” will not be able to undermine the professionalism of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and the Philippine National Police (PNP).

Lacson made the statement amid reports involving 18 former soldiers who claimed they delivered cash in suitcases to individuals linked to a 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. So if those behind them assume that their antics would trigger something bigger and cause destabilization, I think they are wrong,” he said in English and Filipino in an interview on DZBB radio.

He added that any attempt to use the group to influence the military would not succeed.

“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.

Lacson said any possible threat involving the group may have already been addressed following the order of acting Senate President Sherwin Gatchalian to tighten security at the Senate and allow employees to work from home.

He said the Senate continues to assess and validate intelligence reports regarding the alleged threats in coordination with intelligence units of the uniformed services.

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

The senator also raised concerns about the entry of the 18 individuals into the Senate on June 8, saying they did not attend a Blue Ribbon Committee hearing and instead held a press conference at the office of Sen. Robinhood Padilla while the session was ongoing.

He said supporters of the group allegedly confronted Senate Sergeant-at-Arms (Ret.) P/Maj. Gen. Alfredo Corpuz to gain entry into the premises.

Lacson added it was possible the group could be used to create disruption inside the Senate, which he described as a potential “staging area” for broader destabilization efforts.

“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 said.