The situation, in brief
Former Senator Gregorio “Gringo” Honasan has launched a new political party—the Reform PH Party—with roots in the Magdalo movement, drawing together veterans linked to the group, returnees from armed left organizations, and Muslim rebel returnees who have laid down their arms, all committed to…
Former Senator Gregorio “Gringo” Honasan has launched a new political party—the Reform PH Party—with roots in the Magdalo movement, drawing together veterans linked to the group, returnees from armed left organizations, and Muslim rebel returnees who have laid down their arms, all committed to pursuing change through legal, constitutional, and peaceful means.
When asked whether former military members in the Reform PH Party could be considered a breakaway from the Magdalo group, Honasan answered plainly: “Oo, ‘yun.”
During an interview on DZRH News program Special on Saturday on May 16, Honasan said that the party has since expanded beyond its Magdalo roots to include those who came from the armed struggle of the left and Muslim rebel returnees who have since renounced armed conflict.
“Mga galing ito sa armadong pakikibaka ng kaliwa. At we reached out to our Muslim brothers. Pinirmahan namin ‘to, ito ‘yung mga nagbalik-loob na galing sa armadong pakikibaka,” he said.
Honasan was careful to distinguish Reform PH Party from similarly named political organizations that have come before it.
“Hindi ito Reform Party ni the late Miriam Santiago. Hindi rin ‘to Reform Party ni Manoy Raul Roco. Tsaka hindi rin ito ‘yung Reporma ni Secretary De Villa, ni Alvarez,” he said, stressing that the new party is a distinct formation with its own identity, membership, and platform.
The former senator said the party’s platform is anchored on reform across all sectors of Philippine society—electoral, economic, social, and spiritual—and that its membership extends well beyond retirees and veterans to include young people from student councils, the legislative branch, the executive branch, and the judiciary.
“Maraming bata rito. Mga nasa student council. Mas maraming bata, at hindi lang student council. All sectors. Nasa legislative, nasa executive, nasa judiciary,” Honasan said.
Honasan acknowledged that some party members currently hold positions in government and cannot publicly identify themselves as members for fear of professional consequences.
“Hindi natin pwedeng pangalanan dahil ‘pag nasa gobyerno ka, hindi ka pwedeng magsalita laban sa gobyerno kahit na hindi na tama ang ginagawa,” he said.
The former senator said the party’s primary mode of engagement is parliamentary struggle—working within the legal and constitutional framework rather than outside it—and that this commitment is both principled and strategic.
“Gusto naming lumahok sa parliamentary struggle. Legal, constitutional, at peaceful. Ngayon, nagmamanikluhod kami: payagan niyo kaming lumahok sa isang patas na laban,” Honasan said.
Honasan warned, however, that if the system continues to deny fair participation to those seeking genuine reform, the consequences could push frustrated Filipinos toward more radical alternatives outside the constitutional framework.
“Kung walang hustisya, walang patas na laban sa loob ng sistema, saan pupunta itong mga naghahanap ng rebolusyon at ng pagbabago? Maghahanap ito ng rebolusyon sa labas ng sistema. ‘Yun ba ang gusto natin?” he said.
The former senator said the party’s reach is not limited to the Philippines but extends to the 14 million Filipinos living and working in 200 countries around the world—a diaspora he described as overqualified, underrepresented, and deeply invested in the future of the country they left behind.
“14 million Filipinos in 200 countries all over the world. Overqualified teachers and nurses raising the children of world leaders. ‘Yun ang audience natin. ‘Yun ang gusto naming makasanib, makasama sa reform movement,” Honasan said.
On the practical challenge of building a new party without the financial resources of established political machines, Honasan was candid—acknowledging that Reform PH Party is operating on a shoestring budget and relying on education, example, and the capacity for sacrifice rather than money and patronage to build popular support.
“Kaya lang siyempre, bago kang partido, kulang ka sa pang-gasolina, pang-tricycle,” he said.
Honasan also rejected the notion that Reform PH Party is a project of the past—a collection of has-beens reliving old battles—insisting instead that it is a forward-looking movement built for the next generation of Filipinos.
“You can never call yourself a has-been because reform is continuing, evolving for our children,” he said, adding that the party’s ultimate measure of success will not be the number of seats it wins but whether it helps break the cycle of political dysfunction that has defined Philippine democracy for the past four decades.
