FACT-CHECK: PH constitution bars reelection of presidents for second term

admin 10:19 PM

CLAIM: President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. will seek reelection as president in 2028.

 

RATING: FALSE

 

A viral Facebook post claimed that President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. will seek another term as president in 2028.

Flagged content: A social media card that mimics a news graphic circulating online, featuring a photo of the president and text falsely claiming he is planning to run again in 2028.

  • The photo used in the graphic is a screenshot taken from a May 13 video uploaded on his official Facebook page, where he released a statement concerning the issues in the Senate.

Our debunk: Marcos Jr. has made no public announcement on plans to run for reelection in 2028. Even if he did, the Philippine Constitution would not allow him.

  • According to Article VII, Section 4 of the 1987 Constitution, the president “shall not be eligible for any reelection.”
  • The same rule applies to officials who would succeed as president, such as the vice president or the Senate president, and who have served as such for more than four  years.
  • This provision was included in the charter to prevent a repeat of the dictatorship of Ferdinand Marcos Sr., who had held onto the presidency for more than 20 years.

Rewind: In 2023, Sen. Robinhood Padilla proposed Charter Change, or the revision of the 1987 Constitution, with amendments that would allow the president and vice president to serve two four-year terms.

  • Padilla refiled his proposal in 2025, calling for a Constitutional Convention to study and approve the revision of the 1987 Constitution.
  • However, in May 2026, the president’s sister-turned-critic Sen. Imee Marcos presented a video in the Senate accusing members of the minority of conspiring to push for charter change and postpone the 2028 national elections.

Why we fact-checked this: As of writing, the graphic has amassed more than 10,000 reactions and 3,000 comments.

  • Similar graphics pushing the same narrative have been shared across multiple pro-Duterte Facebook groups, making it hard to determine the falsehood’s actual reach. 

Spot the fake: Look for legitimate news outlets and government sites or pages for news and political updates.

  • Beware of posts from unverified and non-reputable users and pages. Misleading posts like this are often used for political campaigns.
  • If posts like this appear in your social media feed, analyze the full content. Look for possible exaggerations and inconsistencies before they affect your judgment. Khrixia Mae Quizon


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