FACT CHECK: Marcos did not say he wants another 6-year presidential term
Claim: President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. expressed interest in extending his term for another six years to address more problems in the country.
Rating: FALSE
Why we fact-checked this: Facebook user Angel Batz posted a supposed quote card of Marcos lamenting that his current six-year term is not enough to manage the problems plaguing the Philippines and that he needs another six years to do so.
“Sa dami na ng nasolusyunan kong problema sa bansa, kulang ang anim na taon. Kung may magagawa pa ako para makapaglingkod sa Pilipinas, itutuloy ko kahit another six years,” the quote attributed to the President read.
(With all the problems I have solved in the country, six years is not enough. If I can do anything else to serve the Philippines, I will continue for at least another six years.)
The post has 5,500 reactions, 2,400 comments, and 137 shares as of writing. Multiple TikTok and YouTube videos also featured the quote card.
The facts: Marcos did not make this statement. No verified reports, statements, or interviews show that he said this. Furthermore, a president is mandated by the Constitution to serve a six-year term only.
Under Article VII, Section 4 of the 1987 Constitution, a president is elected for a six-year term and would not be eligible for reelection. Any successor to the presidency who has served as such for more than four years is also ineligible for election to the same office at any time.
On May 14, Palace press officer Undersecretary Claire Castro debunked claims that Marcos is seeking to extend his term through charter change or an amendment to the Constitution, calling such claims “baseless and unsubstantiated.”
These allegations made the rounds online when Vice President Sara Duterte said that the growing discussions on charter change at the time would enable Marcos to stay in power beyond his term. She has earlier made the same allegation in 2025.
Marcos himself has denied claims that he intends to remain in power beyond his six-year term. In May 2026, he dismissed claims by his sister, Senator Imee Marcos, about an alleged “no election” scenario in 2028.
Marcos previously expressed interest in changing the 1987 Constitution’s economic provisions to attract foreign investors, but did not say anything about term extension.
Previous fact checks: Rappler has previously fact-checked multiple false claims about Marcos:
- FACT CHECK: Video of Marcos and Romualdez laughing about ‘fooling’ the public is AI-generated
- FACT CHECK: No new impeachment complaint vs Marcos; post misuses February 2026 report
- FACT CHECK: No new impeachment complaint vs Marcos sent to Senate
- FACT CHECK: Audio clip of Marcos ordering cases vs minority senators is AI-generated
- FACT CHECK: Marcos not arrested, photo is AI-generated
– Eirene Manatlao/Rappler.com
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