A Facebook post claims President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s term is extended until 2034. This is false.
The post published on Sept. 26 is a graphic with a photo of Marcos and the text:
“NAG-EXTEND NA ANG TERMINO NG BARANGAY OFFICIALS. SUSUNOD NA ANG PRESIDENTE NA MAG-EXTEND NG TERMINO.
PBBM EXTENDED UNTIL 2034
(THE TERM OF BARANGAY OFFICIALS HAS ALREADY BEEN EXTENDED. NEXT WILL BE THE PRESIDENT EXTENDING HIS TERM).”
Its caption was more direct and read:
“PBBM extended term until 2034”
The 1987 Constitution sets the Philippine president’s term at six years and does not provide for any extension or re-election. A constitutional amendment is required to allow a second term for an incumbent chief executive, not simply a regular law that would extend the term of office.
On Sept. 24, Marcos signed Republic Act No. 12326, which sets the term of barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan officials from four to five years and moves the scheduled Barangay and SK Elections from November 2026 to the second Monday of November 2028.
The extension of barangay officials’ terms does not in itself create a legal basis for extending the president’s term.
The erroneous post surfaced after the signing of RA 12326, and the petition was filed before the Supreme Court to declare the postponement of the BSKE elections – the second in 13 months – unconstitutional.
VERA Files Fact Check has previously debunked another post about Marcos extending his term.
Posted by Facebook page Marcos Parin with 38,000 followers, the posts have so far garnered 1,049 reactions, 272 comments, and 67 shares.
