Sen. Imee Marcos prodded House members on Thursday, Feb. 8 to reveal their true intentions on the proposed economic reforms of the 1987 Constitution, mentioning the supposed aim to extend term limits.

In a radio interview on DZBB, Marcos said it was high time that members of the House of Representatives disclose their actual objectives, stating. She stated how obvious it is that the amendments go beyond economic provisions and that the aim is to extend the term limits of elective officials.

“Sabihin na natin ang totoo. Magpakatotoo ka, sister, ‘yun lang ang payo ko. ‘Wag naman economic ek-ek. Alam naman nating hindi economic ek-ek ang pakay. Bakit hindi na lang talagang ipagtapat kung anong nais? Let’s get real here. Be honest, sister, that’s my only advice. Let’s not talk about economic matters as a disguise. We all know that the intention is not about economic matters. Why not just openly admit what you want?” Marcos said.

“Kung talagang term extension, ayan yung three-year term na ‘yan na nagbibigay ng korapsyon at kung ano-ano pang ideya. Palagay ko lahat sang-ayon na habaan na ‘yung termino at kung no-term limits ang pag-usapan din basta anti-dynasty. Ano ba talaga? (If it’s really about term extension, that three-year term is what breeds corruption and all sorts of ideas. I think everyone agrees to extend the term, and if there are no term limits, let’s discuss it as long as it’s anti-dynasty. What is the truth, after all?)” Marcos said.

House Majority Leader Zamboanga City 2nd district Rep. Mannix Dalipe recently challenged all 24 senators on Tuesday, Feb. 6 to "open their cards" and show the Filipino public exactly where they stand on the issue of constitutional revision.

They also asked the Senate to urgently consider and pass Resolution of Both Houses No. 6 (RBH 6), which seeks to amend certain economic provisions of the Constitution pertaining to public services, education and advertising.

When asked if she would support House Resolution No. 6, which pertains to Charter amendments, Marcos responded: “No. Hindi ko pa alam kasi kung ano ‘yung porma nung resolution (No. I still don’t know what the form of the resolution is.).”

“Tulad ng sinabi ko magpakatotoo tayo kung talaga yung pakay nila ay palitan yung sistema ng gobyerno, ipagtapat na at ‘wag ng ikubli sa advertising at kung sino-sino pa diyan sa media na dinadamay at ‘yung edukasyon talaga naman wala naman tayong pakialam diyan kasi nagsipasok na ‘yung mga foreigners, wala namang problema sa culinary, sa tourism andiyan na sila, so ano pa ang kailangan diyan? Kaya ang duda ng lahat talaga namang gusto ay palitan ‘yung political (As I said, let’s be honest. If their real intention is to change the government system, they should openly admit it and not hide it through advertising and involving various media personalities. As for education, we don’t really have any concerns about it because some foreigners are already here and there’s no problem with culinary and tourism, so what else is needed there? That’s why everyone thinks that what they really want is to change the political provisions)," s headded.

Marcos also expressed skepticism regarding assurances made by House members that they would adopt whatever amendments were approved by the Senate. She doubted whether such promises could be fulfilled, given her suspicion that the true intentions behind the amendments were being concealed.

“Parang kasi ang duda ko ay talagang hindi economic ek-ek ang pakay ‘yun naman talaga ang inuuwian namin kaya sabihin na ‘yung totoo para sa akin buklatin na lahat ‘yan. Walang problema basta i-debate, ilagay sa tamang pamamaraan at ‘wag insultuhin ang mamamayang Pilipino na suhol ng suhol (It seems like my doubt is that their intention is not really about economic matters; that’s what we’re really concerned about. So tell the truth. For me, let’s reveal everything. There would be no problem as long as it’s debated and done in the proper manner, and let’s not insult the Filipino people by constantly bribing them),” Marcos stressed.

Marcos also highlighted the high costs associated with the process of amending the Charter, estimating that billions of pesos would be spent on an endeavor that ultimately amounted to nothing.

She proposed redirecting such funds to address pressing issues like in disaster-stricken areas in Davao, instead of wasting them on futile discussions.

Meanwhile, in relation to PI, the Senate Committee on Electoral Reforms and People’s Representations will continue its investigation into the alleged irregularities behind the People’s Initiative (PI) signature campaign on February 13.

Marcos, who leads the committee probe on the signature gathering to push for Cha-cha, said she hopes to get more answers, in particular, from one Atty. Anthony Abad, whose name came up repeatedly during the first hearing held on January 29. Abad, who was not present during the first hearing, has supposedly confirmed attendance for next week’s hearing.

The presidential sister said she also hopes to get to the bottom of the funding for PI which includes cash and cash vouchers allegedly handed out and promised to people who signed the petition, and least P55 million which was also supposedly spent on a pro-Cha-cha TV advertising.

According to Noel Oñate, PIRMA’s lead convenor, half of the P55 million was his own money, while the other half was raised through private donations. Oñate could not produce a list of donors at the time, but said his financial team will make it available at the next hearing.

“Sabi niya, may mga donors pero ayaw naman ibigay yung listahan. Wala naman sa BIR yung donors list at saka yung donors tax. Ayaw naman ipakita kung saan galing yung pera (He said there are donors but he won't give the list. The BIR doesn't have the donors list and the donors tax. He doesn't want to show where the money came from),” she said.

A subcommittee of the Senate Committee on Constitutional Amendments and Revision of Codes held its first public hearing on the resolution on Feb. 5. There Marcos raised various questions regarding the the resolution in her opening statement.