Senator Imee Marcos said Sunday that fellow senators are plotting to extend the president's term and block Vice President Sara Duterte's 2028 presidential run [1].

These accusations highlight deepening fractures within the Philippine political landscape. If true, a constitutional assembly plot to alter term limits would represent a fundamental shift in the country's democratic structure and the legal eligibility of future candidates [2].

Marcos said Senators Vicente "Tito" Sotto III and Panfilo "Ping" Lacson connived to ensure the Vice President cannot run for the presidency in 2028 [2]. The allegation centers on a supposed scheme to utilize a constitutional assembly to extend the current president's tenure, a move that would effectively displace the natural succession or candidacy of the Vice President [2].

Minority senators responded by dismissing the claims. They said the allegations made by Marcos were fake news [1]. One response indicated that Marcos had once again received incorrect information regarding the intentions and actions of Sotto and Lacson [2].

The dispute occurred in Manila, where the tension between the Marcos and Duterte political factions has become increasingly visible [1]. While the specific mechanics of the alleged plot were not detailed, the focus remains on the 2028 electoral cycle and the preservation of existing term limits [2].

Senator Marcos did not provide public evidence to support the claims of a conspiracy. Sotto and Lacson said they were not involved in any effort to illegally extend the presidency or obstruct the electoral process [1].

“Senator Imee Marcos alleged that fellow senators are plotting to extend the president's term.”

The public clash between Senator Imee Marcos and the minority senators signals a breakdown in the political alliance between the Marcos and Duterte families. By framing the issue as a conspiracy to block Vice President Sara Duterte, Marcos is tapping into a sensitive narrative of political betrayal that could influence the coalition's stability leading up to the 2028 elections.