‘Magpakatotoo kayo’: Imee Marcos calls for lawmakers’ transparency on term limit extensions

Senator Imee Marcos on Thursday urged congressmen who had earlier pressed senators to reveal their true position on economic constitutional reforms to disclose their own genuine intentions behind the proposed Charter amendments.

In a radio interview, Marcos said it was high time that their counterparts at the House of Representatives reveal their true intentions, asserting that the amendments go beyond economic provisions and aim to extend term limits of certain elective officials, including congressmen.

“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?” Marcos said.

(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?)

The sister of President Marcos expressed concern that extending terms could lead to corruption and other detrimental consequences, implying that there might be widespread support among House members for such a change.

“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?” Marcos said.

(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?)

House lawmakers led by Majority Leader Manuel Jose “Mannix” Dalipe earlier challenged all 24 senators to publicly state their stand regarding amendments to the economic provisions of the 1987 Constitution.

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, Senator 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.)

She added: “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.)

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,” Marcos stressed.

(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 also highlighted the exorbitant 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. With Macon Ramos-Araneta