Bongbong Marcos doesn't want to amend Constitution, says Imee

Senator Imee Marcos on Tuesday said that her brother, President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr., has long said that he is not in favor of amending the 1987 Constitution.

Interviewed on Unang Balita, the senator said that the President believes that Charter change might just be a waste of time and it might distract the administration from solving the real problems of the country.

“Ayaw talaga niya dahil abalang abala siya sa pagbangon ng ekonomiya. Sabi niya hirap na hirap pa rin ang tao, ang taas pa rin ng bilihin, mahirap pa ring makahanap ng maayos na trabaho, bakit natin papasukan ‘yan? Baka maubos lang ang panahon,” Imee said.

(He really doesn't want to because he is focused on recovering the economy. He lamented why there’s still a push for that when people are still struggling, prices are still high, and it's still hard to find a good job. It might just waste our time.)

The lawmaker also remained firm that it is not the right time to push for Charter change, stressing that it is not the most important thing that could change the people's lives at this moment.

“Hindi pa naging presidente ang aking kapatid, nag-usap na kami ni Bongbong na baka makapag-distract lang ‘to. Malilihis lang ang atensyon ng pamahalaan kapag ito na lang ang tututukan natin, hindi na ang presyo ng bigas, ang gasolina, at iba pang problema sa trabaho,” she added.

(My brother and I talked when he was still not President and we said this might only be a distraction. It might divert the government's attention from the price of rice, fuel, and other work problems if we will only focus on this,)

In February 2023, Bongbong said that amending the Constitution was not his priority, adding that his administration's goals can be achieved under the present Constitution.

In December, the President said that the study on amending the Constitution should focus on how to attract more investors in the Philippines which is his "primary interest."

Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri said Monday that Marcos believes the proposed amendments in people's initiative for Charter change was “too divisive."

Marcos thus asked the Senate to instead take the lead in reviewing the economic provisions of the Constitution to also preserve the bicameral nature of legislation.

Resolution of Both Houses No. 6 was thus filed, proposing amendments to certain economic provisions of the 1987 Constitution. It included reforms in the Public Services Act, education, and advertising industry by adding the phrase "unless otherwise provided by law."

Senator Robin Padilla, who chairs the Senate committee on constitutional amendments and revision of codes, said he welcomes this resolution.

"Napakagandang balita po ito para sa Bayan. Magkakaroon na po ng bagong sigla ang ating ekonomiya tungo sa pag-unlad ng buhay ng mga Pilipino,” he said in a statement.

(This is good news for the nation. Our economy will be revitalized leading to progress in the lives of Filipinos.)

Padilla said he has long been pushing for reforms in the Constitution's economic provisions so that investments from abroad can come in and lead to jobs and other economic opportunities for Filipinos.

Meanwhile, House deputy minority leader and ACT Teachers party-list representative France Castro called for a probe into the ongoing Charter change signature campaign in the country, citing instances of supposed signature buying as these were done alongside the distribution of government aid and gifts.

Under House Resolution 1541,Castro and the Makabayan bloc pushed for a probe into the ongoing people’s initiative for Charter change. —KG, GMA Integrated News