Marcos unsure if people’s initiative to amend Charter still viable

FILE PHOTO: President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has expressed uncertainty about whether the people’s initiative approach is still a workable option for his administration to amend the 1987 Constitution. He made the remark during a media interview in Vietnam on Tuesday, January 30, 2024. Photo from RTV Malacañang.

MANILA, Philippines — President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. is unsure if the people’s initiative (PI) approach is still a workable option for his administration to amend the 1987 Constitution.

His remark came as the signature campaign for Charter change via PI has caused a rift between the Senate and House of Representatives. The Commission on Elections has suspended all its proceedings for the controversial drive.

“We don’t know yet. We haven’t made those decisions yet,” Marcos said in a media interview in Vietnam on Tuesday but released to Philippine media only on Wednesday. The President was asked about the fate of the PI in amending the 1987 Constitution.

“I don’t know if that is still one of the options that remains for us,” he added.

Previously, Marcos said he was in favor of updating the country’s principal Charter but only for economic revisions. He also said former chief justices and constitutionalists were still being consulted for these changes.

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Marcos said earlier that he found the PI too divisive and asked the Senate to take the lead on legislating economic changes to the 1987 Constitution.