Authorities checking reports on fresh destabilization attempts against the Marcos government

An official said several of Duterte’s allies had met with two senators and two former lawmakers at a five-star hotel in Bonifacio Global City last week to seek political support for the mass action.

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. in his commencement speech for the 3rd Commencement Exercises of the West Visayas State University (WVSU) College of Law in Iloilo City last Friday, June 5. Official handout.

Manuel Mogato | June 8, 2026

MANILA — The government’s security services have started looking into reports of fresh attempts to unseat President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. after rumors swirled of a massive protest action this week, an administration official said.

Although the Presidential Office’s spokesperson, Claire Castro, dismissed reports of fresh attempts to destabilize the government, security services have intensified their monitoring activities on certain groups, including an influential religious group that reportedly planned to march on June 12. (Also read: Coup jitters not only a headache for Marcos Jr. but also for US, allies)

“There was a raw intelligence report that a religious group, closely identified with the Duterte political group, planned to mobilize a large crowd and march to Malacanang to pressure the president to stop the impeachment of the vice president and arrest lawmakers aligned with her,” an unnamed administration official speaking on condition of anonymity.

The administration official said several of Duterte’s allies had met with two senators and two former lawmakers at a five-star hotel in Bonifacio Global City last week to seek political support for the mass action.

“They could have talked about possible funding for the mass action,” the administration official said. (Also read: The Unlikelihood of a Successful Coup in the Philippines)

“Incidentally, a retired army general created a new group of retired soldiers and policemen to call for a thorough investigation into the billions of pesos worth of non-existent public works projects,” he added.

Senators allied with Vice President Sara Duterte held a public consultation on the non-existent flood control projects, singling out senators and more than a dozen congressmen for receiving suitcases of cash from 2019 to 2025.

“These public consultations were unofficial and were never entered into the Senate records,” he said, adding the proceedings were illegal.

The administration official said the public consultations were meant to discredit some congressmen involved in Vice President Sara Duterte’s impeachment trial.

Apart from delaying the impeachment trial, the administration official said the pro-Duterte groups also wanted to pressure the president not to arrest lawmakers involved in the infrastructure mess.

Senators Joel Villanueva, Francis Escudero, Rodante Marcoleta, Robin Padilla and Alan Peter Cayetano may face arrest soon. (Also read: Authorities arrest a senator for corruption)

At the same time, the Armed Forces issued a statement asking the public to insulate the military from partisan politics after vloggers claimed the mass action was supported and endorsed by soldiers.

The Philippine National Police, for its part, said it has not monitored plans and activities to destabilize the government. (Also read: A template for regime change)

“But the security services are not taking any chances,” the administration officials said, adding the National Security Council has started checking the reports.