PBBM not pushing Charter change for term extension

By Ruth Abbey Gita-Carlos, Philippine News Agency

NO TO CHA-CHA. In a radio interview on Tuesday (May 26, 2026), Palace Press Officer Claire Castro says President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. is not pushing for Charter change for term extension or the postponement of the 2028 elections. Castro said the alleged proposals were never discussed in meetings in Malacañan Palace. (Philippine News Agency/facebook)

MANILA – Malacañang on Tuesday dismissed as mere speculation the claims that President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. is eyeing amendments to the 1987 Constitution for possible term extensions and election postponement.

In a radio interview, Palace Press Officer Claire Castro said the alleged push for Charter change has never been discussed in meetings presided over by Marcos at Malacañan Palace.

“Kapag po kami ay nagmi-meeting, ni hindi po iyan napag-uusapan (When we hold meetings, that issue is not even being discussed),” Castro said.

“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 (The President has many meetings, but this has never been part of the agenda because there is no plan for such a thing),” she added.

This came after Sen. Imee Marcos alleged that there are moves to amend the Constitution through a constituent assembly to extend the terms of incumbent officials until 2031, lower the age requirement for presidential candidates to 35, and cancel the 2028 presidential elections.

Castro denied that the executive branch is pushing for constitutional amendments, noting that the President remains focused on governance concerns, including the effects of El Niño.

She said the Chief Executive adheres to the law and has never considered a “no-election” scenario.

“Meron tayong batas. Maliwanag na 2028, supposed to be may eleksyon (We have laws. It is clear that elections are supposed to happen in 2028),” Castro said. “Huwag nating ibaling sa Pangulo dahil ang Pangulo ay sa batas. So, ano ang batas? May eleksyon sa 2028 (Let us impute this to the President because the President follows the law. And what does the law say? There will be elections in 2028).”

Castro challenged the senator to present proof instead of dragging the President into speculation.

She recalled that in 2023, the President rejected calls from some lawmakers to amend the Constitution’s economic provisions, saying Charter change was “not the solution to the country’s problem.”

Citing her personal opinion, Castro said the senator’s remarks could be part of a tactic to divert public attention from issues surrounding the looming impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte, the recent gun scare inside the Senate premises, and the escape of Sen. Ronald dela Rosa.

“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 (In my view what Senator Imee did is a cover-up for the bigger issue of the impeachment trial. Aside from that, it’s also meant to distract from the alleged escape of Senator Bato dela Rosa, who was supposedly under their custody and protective custody),” Castro said.

Castro urged the public not to be alarmed by what she described as mere rumors.

“Sa mga kababayan natin, iyang mga klaseng kwento, hangga’t wala tayong nakikitang sinisimulan, huwag tayong maalarma kasi puro haka-haka lang iyan (To our fellow citizens, as long as we don’t see anything actually starting, we should not be alarmed because these are all just speculations),” she said.

“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 (We’re not even at Step 1 yet, right?) Maybe if there were visible signs. But from my perspective, I honestly see no signs in the Palace that this is where things are headed because it truly is not being discussed),” Castro added.