The situation, in brief
A breakaway group from former Senator Antonio Trillanes’ Magdalo has ditched the organization to join former Senator Gregorio “Gringo” Honasan’s newly launched Reform PH Party, alongside veterans of the EDSA People Revolution, former fighters from the armed component of the left, the former Alex…
A breakaway group from former Senator Antonio Trillanes’ Magdalo has ditched the organization to join former Senator Gregorio “Gringo” Honasan’s newly launched Reform PH Party, alongside veterans of the EDSA People Revolution, former fighters from the armed component of the left, the former Alex Boncayao Brigade, and former Muslim commanders and fighters who have chosen to pursue change through the parliamentary process.
Honasan described Reform PH Party as composed of groups that have chosen to set aside armed struggle and participate instead in the parliamentary process, saying the party’s goal is to engage in “a level playing field, the parliamentary struggle.”
Honasan identified four distinct groups that form the backbone of Reform PH Party: “Veterans of EDSA People Revolution, breakaway group from Magdalo of Sen. Trillanes, the armed component of the left, the former Alex Boncayao Brigade, former Muslim commanders and fighters who decided to participate in a level playing field, the parliamentary struggle.”
The defection of Magdalo members from Trillanes’ group to Honasan’s Reform PH Party is particularly significant given the prominent role Trillanes played in the Senate standoff earlier this week—it was Trillanes who presented the International Criminal Court arrest warrant against Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa at the Senate on Monday, May 11, triggering the lockdown, the shooting incident, and the chain of events that consumed the national agenda for the better part of the week.
Honasan earlier disclosed the party’s formation during an interview on DZRH News program Special on Saturday, where he described Reform PH Party as a movement committed to legal, constitutional, and peaceful participation in Philippine politics.
“Gusto naming lumahok sa parliamentary struggle. Legal, constitutional, at peaceful. Ngayon, nagmamanikluhod kami: payagan niyo kaming lumahok sa isang patas na laban,” he said, framing the party’s entry into formal politics as a plea for a level playing field rather than a power grab.
Honasan warned during the same interview 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 Reform PH Party’s membership extends beyond veterans and former combatants to include young people from student councils, all three branches of government, and the 14 million Filipinos living and working in 200 countries around the world.
He acknowledged that some members currently hold government positions and cannot publicly identify themselves, saying the party’s reach within existing institutions may be deeper than its public membership implies.
Honasan stressed that the Reform PH Party is not as a project of the past but as 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.
