A House senior member urged a senator to focus on her role as a senator-judge in the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte instead of spreading baseless claims about Charter change and term extensions.
The senator claimed there are alleged moves to amend the Constitution to extend the term of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and prevent the 2028 elections.
“Senator Imee (Marcos) should stop alarming the public with unfounded stories and political fiction. The Filipino people deserve facts, not fearmongering,” House Committee on Higher and Technical Education Chairperson Jude Acidre said.
He said the Senate is facing a clear constitutional duty as it prepares to hear the impeachment case against Duterte, and public officials should not fuel confusion with unsupported allegations.
“Walang saysay ang pagpapakalat ng mga imbentong conspiracy theory habang may malinaw na tungkuling konstitusyonal na dapat harapin ang Senado bilang impeachment court,” he added.
Acidre stressed that the 1987 Constitution allows the President only one six-year term, saying claims of a secret plan to cancel elections or extend terms are meant only to distract the public and inflame political tensions.
“The Constitution is very clear. President Marcos cannot run again in 2028. To keep repeating this narrative despite the absence of evidence only deepens political toxicity and confusion,” he said.
He added that the Senate should concentrate on the impeachment proceedings instead of allowing “political drama and manufactured panic” to dominate public discussion.
“The Senate is about to sit as an impeachment court on a matter of historic national importance. This is not the time for distraction politics,” Acidre said.
He reminded senators that Filipinos expect the impeachment trial to be conducted with seriousness, impartiality, and respect for due process.
“Ang inaasahan ng taumbayan ay katotohanan, pananagutan, at maayos na paglilitis, hindi pananakot, hindi propaganda, at lalong hindi gawa-gawang kwento tungkol sa martial law o term extension,” he said.
He also warned against using Charter change as a political scare tactic, noting that constitutional reform has long been debated under different administrations.
“Constitutional reform has been debated for decades under different administrations. But inventing sinister plots without proof only damages institutions and further divides the country,” he said.
“At this crucial time, public officials should help calm the nation, not inflame it with reckless accusations,” he added.