Charter change has never been on President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s agenda, Malacañang said, contradicting Senator Imee Marcos’ allegations that the President is pushing for constitutional amendments to extend the terms of incumbent officials until 2031, lower the presidential age requirement to 35, and cancel the 2028 elections.
“Kapag po kami ay nagmi-meeting, ni hindi po iyan napag-uusapan. Ang daming meetings ng Pangulo pero hindi po iyan ang nagiging agenda dahil walang balak sa ganiyan. Hindi po iyan priority ng Pangulo at hindi po iyan gagawin,” Press Undersecretary Claire Castro said in a radio interview Tuesday, May 26.
Castro said the President adheres to the law and has never considered a no-election scenario, citing an existing legal framework that clearly mandates elections in 2028.
“Meron tayong batas. Maliwanag na 2028, supposed to be may eleksyon. Huwag nating ibaling sa Pangulo dahil ang Pangulo ay sa batas. So, ano ang batas? May eleksyon sa 2028,” she said, recalling that Marcos had also rejected calls for Charter change in 2023, saying it was “not the solution to the country’s problem.”
Castro challenged Imee Marcos to present proof instead of dragging the President into speculation, and offered her personal assessment that the senator’s remarks were designed to divert public attention from more pressing issues.
“Sa aking paningin, itong ginawa ni Senator Imee, pantakip ito sa mas malaking isyu ng impeachment trial and maliban diyan, pagtakip ito sa pagtatakas kay Senator Bato dela Rosa na nasa custody nila, nasa protective custody nila,” Castro said, pointing to the ongoing impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte and dela Rosa’s escape from the Senate as the issues the senator’s video was meant to overshadow.
Castro urged the public not to be alarmed, saying the Con-Ass allegations have not even reached the first step of becoming reality.
“Sa mga kababayan natin, iyang mga klaseng kwento, hangga’t wala tayong nakikitang sinisimulan, huwag tayong maalarma kasi puro haka-haka lang iyan. Wala pa sa Step 1, di ba? Siguro kung may nakikita na kayong mga senyales kasi sa akin on my part, wala talaga akong nakikitang senyales sa Palasyo na ito ang tinutumbok kasi hindi po talaga iyan pinag-uusapan,” she said.
The Palace’s denial comes after Imee Marcos presented a video during her Senate privilege speech alleging moves to amend the Constitution through a constituent assembly—a presentation that Senator Juan Miguel Zubiri immediately moved to strike from the Senate record, calling it a “horrible propaganda video,” with Senator Raffy Tulfo seconding the motion and calling it a “haosiao presentation” that belongs nowhere near the Senate floor.
