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TheMonitorMindanaoTodayc.com | Marcos Rejects Imee’s Claims on Charter Change Push
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has strongly denied allegations made by his sister, Senator Imee Marcos, regarding supposed efforts within the government to pursue Charter change and extend the terms of incumbent officials.
Speaking to reporters during his state visit to Japan, the President dismissed the claims as baseless and cited them as an example of misinformation.
“You know, fake news affects, hurts everyone, not only those that fake news is attacking, but also those who are purveying that fake news. The purveyors of fake news are also damaged by this,” Marcos said.
“Fake news is a corrosive influence in all sectors of society in political, in economics, in acts of human relations, et cetera. And if you are not part of the solution, you become part of the problem,” he added.
Marcos emphasized that there have been no discussions within his administration about amending the Constitution or extending the terms of elected officials.
“We have never, at any point, even spoken about this anywhere, with anyone, at any time,” he said.
The President’s remarks came after Senator Marcos delivered a privilege speech at the Senate on May 25, where she expressed concern over alleged moves to revive Charter change initiatives. During her address, she presented a video compilation containing materials she claimed pointed to efforts to amend the 1987 Constitution and potentially prolong officials’ terms in office.
While the senator did not directly accuse the President of involvement, she warned of what she described as “dangerous political maneuverings” that could threaten democratic institutions and constitutional safeguards.
In response, President Marcos suggested that the information may have originated from unreliable sources, even remarking that his sister should consider dismissing the staff responsible for providing such claims.
The issue of Charter change remains a sensitive topic in the Philippines, with past proposals often raising concerns about possible alterations to term limits and the balance of political power. The Marcos administration has consistently maintained that its focus is limited to economic amendments aimed at attracting foreign investment, while rejecting any proposal that would extend the terms of elected officials.
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