Marcos wants Cha-cha plebiscite alongside 2025 polls – Zubiri

Senate President Juan Miguel “Migz” F. Zubiri (Bibo Nueva España / Senate PRIB)

MANILA, Philippines — Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri on Monday said President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. has expressed his desire for the Charter change plebiscite to be held alongside the 2025 midterm elections.

“Binanggit niya po kanina yan, mas gusto niya, na magkaroon ng plebiscite in the 2025 elections. Dahil, napaka-klaro, kung gagawin natin ‘yan bago mag-eleksyon [ay] gagastos po tayo ng P12 to P14 billion,” Zubiri told reporters in an ambush interview.

(He mentioned earlier that he prefers to have a plebiscite alongside the 2025 elections. Because it is very clear, if we do that before the election [we will] spend P12 to P14 billion.)\

With this, Zubiri said there’s no need to rush in terms of discussing proposed amendments to the 1987 Constitution’s economic provisions.

“We can take this up after the break…complete the resolution and approve the resolution before the sine die break, yung aming target date. Baka sabihin nila, nangako na naman ako. Target date po natin, kasi ang gusto po ng ating Pangulo eventually is to force it to the elections of 2025,” he explained.

(We can take this up after the break…complete the resolution and approve the resolution before the sine die break, our target date. They might say, I promised again. We have a target date, because what our President eventually wants is to force it to the elections of 2025.)

According to Zubiri, Marcos has asked Senator Sonny Angara, chairperson of the Senate subcommittee on amendments and revision of codes, “to look at the legal possibilities to be able to convince the Commission on Elections  to add” a rider question on the 2025 ballot.

Zubiri explained that if granted, the rider question related to the amendments of the Constitution will be placed at the back of the ballot.

“Sa likod, sa backpage ng balota, kasama ng mga party-list representatives,” he explained.

(At the back of the balot along with party-list representatives)