Is the Philippines vulnerable to another military-triggered political crisis?

Name: Philippine church group protests against flood-control corruption scandal
Uploaded: 2025-12-05T10:00:14.000Z
Description: Philippine church group protests against flood-control corruption scandal

Analysts said an alleged plot by retired generals to oust President Ferdinand Marcos Jnr appears inspired by 2001’s EDSA Dos uprising

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Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jnr walks with armed forces chief General Romeo Brawner Jnr at Camp Aguinaldo in Quezon City in July 2024. Brawner has since confirmed that the military is investigating alleged destabilisation efforts involving retired officers. Photo: AP

Raissa Robles

Published: 6:00pm, 5 Dec 2025

Allegations that a small group of retired generals is trying to push the Philippines military to abandon President Ferdinand Marcos Jnr have intensified concerns about how susceptible the armed forces are to political pressure and extra-constitutional manoeuvres.

Observers told This Week in Asia the retired officers appear to be drawing inspiration from the 2001 “EDSA Dos” uprising – when mass protests and a unified military command helped force President Joseph Estrada from office – but argued such a formula is unlikely to work today given the military’s stronger constitutional ethos and the far different political environment.

In September, military chief General Romeo Brawner Jnr disclosed that he had rejected a direct appeal from eight retired generals and colonels who visited military headquarters urging him to confront corruption and consider withdrawing support from Marcos – a move senior security sources described as a bid for a “soft coup” that would pave the way for Vice-President Sara Duterte-Carpio.

Last month, Brawner said the armed forces’ intelligence community was now investigating reports that retired officers and several government officials were involved in destabilisation efforts.

Philippine church group protests against flood-control corruption scandal

“When there are supposed destabilisation plots, of course, we will look into it seriously,” he told reporters on November 15, adding that investigators were already examining the claims.

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