MANILA, Philippines — Chief Presidential Legal Counsel Juan Ponce Enrile voiced concerns on Sunday about growing calls for a “regime change,” emphasizing that the Philippines is a democratic nation that recently elected its president and vice president under the Constitution.
“We are a democracy. We just had a presidential and vice presidential election under our Constitution. Now, it seems, some people are advocating for a regime change,” Enrile posted on Facebook.
He questioned the direction of these efforts, asking, “What do we really want? Leninism? Maoism? Fascism? A Banana Republic?”
Enrile’s remarks came as he expressed doubts about the intentions behind those challenging the current administration. He suggested that those advocating for change should wait for the upcoming elections to express their views.
“If we want to test our popular strength, why don’t we wait for the midterm elections next year? If we want a regime change, why not wait for the national election in 2026?” he proposed.
The CPLC cautioned that political power struggles could put the country’s stability at risk, urging all parties to be clear about their intentions and handle the matter carefully.
“Are we so impatient that we want to seize political power now? Do we want a stable, peaceful, and prosperous society, or do we want an anarchic condition? Let’s be clear about what we want,” Enrile said.
He stressed the importance of open debate on the issue, warning that the country’s future is at stake.
“Let’s bring it out into the open and debate it. Let society decide. So much is involved. So many people are going to get hurt! The whole nation is at stake,” Enrile warned.
His statements come amid increasing political tensions, particularly between the camps of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and Vice President Sara Duterte.
These tensions escalated after Duterte revealed that she had instructed someone to kill Marcos, First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos, and House Speaker Martin Romualdez if she would get killed.