Senator Imee Marcos claimed on Thursday that top political leaders, administration officials, and prominent business figures have been holding discussions to push for a Constituent Assembly (Con-Ass) aimed at amending the Constitution and extending the terms of elected officials.
In a radio interview, Marcos alleged that these meetings were coordinated among the leadership of both the Senate and the House of Representatives, Cabinet members, and business personalities prior to an upcoming impeachment vote in Congress.
“May usap-usapan na bago magbotohan sa Kongreso na kinakailangan daw, eto yung meeting ng liderato noon, ng Senado, ng liderato ng Kongreso, ng mga administration cabinet officials at iba pang negosyante, na kinakailangan daw kung hindi daw lulusot yung impeachment kasi wala ngang boto sa Senado,” Marcos said.
There are talks before the voting in Congress that it is allegedly needed—this was the meeting of the leadership then, of the Senate, the leadership of Congress, administration cabinet officials, and other businessmen—that it is supposedly necessary if the impeachment will not pass because there are no votes in the Senate.
According to the lawmaker, one of the primary proposals under discussion is convening a Con-Ass to grant a three-year term extension to members of Congress and the President.
Marcos further warned that the move could disrupt the 2028 national elections, potentially triggering a “no-election” (No-El) scenario for national posts or limiting the polls strictly to local positions. She also claimed the changes target specific political figures.
“Ikakasa na nila ang Con-Ass [kung] saan ang eleksyon ay para na lamang [sa] Local na posisyon, ‘No-El’; extension ng tatlong taon. Tapos papalitan pa daw yung edad ng Pangulo. Gagawin ng 50 years para hindi makatakbo at disqualified na si VP Sara [Duterte],” she alleged.
They will set up the Con-Ass where the election will only be for local positions, “No-El”; a three-year extension. Then they will reportedly change the age requirement for the President. They will make it 50 years old so VP Sara [Duterte] cannot run and will be disqualified.
Marcos asserted that the broader political strategy extends beyond impeachment, tying it directly to long-term constitutional overhauls and adjustments to the country’s electoral calendar.
Furthermore, the senator alleged that massive financial incentives and infrastructure allocations are being used as leverage to secure lawmakers’ support during budget deliberations and impeachment talks.
“Bago magbotohan sa impeachment, lalo na yung Visayas and Mindanao congressmen, ayaw bumoto talaga sa impeachment. Eh ang problema, unang-una, inalok sila ng 20 million pesos cash, pagkatapos 200 million ang kanilang infrastructure, hard projects, baka kasali na naman ang flood control dyan,” she said.
Before the voting on impeachment, especially the Visayas and Mindanao congressmen, they really did not want to vote for impeachment. But the problem is, first of all, they were offered 20 million pesos in cash, and then 200 million for their infrastructure, hard projects, and maybe flood control is included there again.
Marcos noted that shifting alliances and competing political blocs continue to fuel tensions within Congress, though she refrained from naming specific officials involved.
Malacañang has yet to issue a statement regarding the allegations.