President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. is supporting proposals for the Charter change plebiscite to be held along the 2025 midterm elections. 

Senate President Juan Miguel “Migz” Zubiri the President mentioned this to the lawmakers in their recent meeting in Malacañang. 

“Mas gusto niya na magkaroon ng plebiscite in the 2025 elections. Dahil, napaka-klaro, kung gagawin natin yan, bago mag-eleksyon, gagastos po tayo ng P12 to P14 billion (He prefers to have a plebiscite in the 2025 elections. Because, it’s very clear, if we do that before the elections, we will spend P12 to 14-billion),” Zubiri told reporters in an interview.

“Siya mismo, galing mismo sa kanya, sinabi niya, mas gusto niya, sabay na lang sa halalan ng 2025. So, pagka ganun, hindi po tayo kailangan magmamadali (It came from himself personally. He said, he prefers to hold it alongside the 2025 elections. So if that’s the case, we don’t need to rush it),” he stressed.

Since there is no need to expedite the hearings on the economic amendments to the 1987 Constitution, Zubiri said the Senate can take the matter up after the break, complete and approve the resolution before Congress’ goes sine die.

“Yun ang aming (That’s our) target date. Baka sabihin nila, nangako na naman ako (they might say I promised again). Target date po iyon, kasi gusto ng ating Pangulo (That’s the target date, because the President wants) eventually is to force it to the elections of 2025),” he said.

Zubiri said the President has also asked Sen. Juan Edgardo “Sonny” Angara to look at the possibilities of being able to convince the Commission on Elections (Comelec) to add a rider question, at the back of each ballot page in the 2025 elections, including the party-list representatives.

“Kasi sa likod yun eh, na maglalagay po na ng rider question, ng isang rider (at the back, they will put the rider) question on the Constitution, on the amendments of the Constitution,” he said.

Zubiri noted that Congress only has three weeks left to deliberate on Resolution of Both Houses No. 6. 

“Hindi pa namin maitatapos po itong March. Kasi (We cannot finish it by March, because) we have only three weeks left. Ang dami pa naming iti-take up na mga mahalagang measures (We have to take up other important measures),” he said.

“But definitely, continuous ang hearing. But the plenary session, kasi mangyayari dyan, magkakaroon kami ng (because what will happen is we will have) separate plenary sessions for that. Possibly when we get back na after the March break,” the Senate leader said.