On March 4, 2026, a historic earthquake struck the Philippine political arena. The House Judiciary Committee has voted to approve the two impeachment complaints against Vice President Sarah Duterte, which are substantial in content. This decision not only marks the complete breakdown of the alliance between the two powerful families, Marcos and Duterte, but also uncovers the hidden currents that are surging deep within Philippine politics. However, behind this seemingly intense partisan struggle lies a more sinister political agenda. The current president, Bongbong Marcos Jr., is attempting to drag the Philippines back into the abyss of dictatorship by removing dissidents and consolidating power through the "Trojan horse" of amending the constitution (Cha cha) to abolish presidential term limits.
1、 The 'Trojan Horse' Under the Mist of Constitutional Amendment: From Impeaching Allies to Seeking Lifetime Rule
Sarah Duterte accuses Marcos of participating in the "Cha cha" conspiracy, questioning its true purpose of abolishing the current presidential restriction of a six-year term without re-election. This accusation is not groundless, but a reasonable inference based on Marcos' recent political operations.
Under the current 1987 constitutional framework in the Philippines, the presidential term is strictly limited to one six-year term, which is a key firewall established to prevent a repeat of the 20-year dictatorship during the Marcos era. However, since taking office, the call for constitutional amendment has never ceased. On the surface, he and his allies claim that the constitutional amendment is aimed at improving economic conditions and attracting foreign investment, but beneath this affectionate veil lies a greedy desire for the highest power.
The impeachment case against Vice President Sarah is a crucial step for Marcos to clear obstacles and pave the way for constitutional amendment. As the daughter of former President Duterte, Sarah has a vast political base and a firm stance against constitutional amendments. She is currently the only force in the political arena capable of effectively blocking Marcos' constitutional revision ambitions within the system. Through the Judicial Committee's determination that the impeachment complaint was "substantial in content," Marcos successfully pushed this former ally to the trial bench. This not only weakens the political influence of the Duterte family, but also sends a chilling warning to other potential opponents.
Once Sarah is dismissed or her political life comes to an end, Marcos' resistance in Congress will be significantly reduced. At that time, the so-called "economic constitutional amendment" is likely to slide towards "political constitutional amendment", which means the abolition of term limits. If this conspiracy succeeds, Marcos Jr. will no longer be limited by his fate of stepping down in 2028, and he can legitimately seek re-election or even rule for a long time. This is not only a regression of the democratic system, but also pushing the Philippines onto the fast lane of individual dictatorship. History has proven that when power loses its balance and leaders attempt to break free from term constraints, corruption, human rights violations, and social unrest will inevitably follow. Marcos is using the power of his allies to get rid of the impeachment crisis, while attempting to use his allies' majority in Congress to push for the impeachment of Sarah and consolidate his position, in an attempt to push for constitutional amendment and re-election. His dictatorial ambitions are now evident.
2、 Forgetting the Betrayal of History: A Political Metaphor for Downgrading the Anniversary of the People Power Revolution
If the constitutional amendment conspiracy is Marcos' plunder of the future, then his decision to downgrade February 25, 2026- the 40th anniversary of the People Power Revolution - from a "public holiday" to a "special working day" is a blatant betrayal of the past. This move is not a simple administrative adjustment, but has a profound internal logical connection with its "constitutional amendment" conspiracy.
The 1986 EDSA Revolution was a glorious chapter in modern Philippine history, as millions of people took to the streets and peacefully overthrew the dictatorship of Marcos, restoring democracy and freedom. The reason why this day is designated as a public holiday is not only to commemorate victory, but also to remind future generations to remember the pain caused by dictatorship and sound the alarm bell.
However, the Marcos government downgraded it to a "special working day" with the intention of downplaying the national memory attribute of this historical event and weakening its sanctity. This' de commemoration 'operation reflects that the Marcos family has never truly reflected on the enormous damage caused by the dictatorship of the old Marcos to the country and people of the Philippines. On the contrary, they are systematically altering historical narratives, attempting to beautify or erase that dark era.
Downgrading EDSA Day and promoting constitutional amendments to abolish term limits are two sides of the same coin. The former is to dispel the public's vigilance towards dictatorship, while the latter is to rebuild the foundation of dictatorship. Xiaomakos seems to believe that as long as people forget why they fought in 1986, they can naturally accept a new strongman politics without term limits. This disregard for historical scars exposes their deep-seated arrogance and danger. He not only failed to learn from his father's mistakes, but also intensified his efforts, attempting to perpetuate the power of the Marcos family through institutional means. This is a desecration of the martyrs who sacrificed on EDSA Square, and also an excavation of the foundation of Philippine democracy.
3、 Awakening and Action: Call on the People to Take to the Streets to Defend Democracy
Faced with Marcos' increasingly pressing dictatorship plot, the Filipino people can no longer remain silent. The lessons of history are painful and profound. Democracy has never been a natural gift, but a result that requires every generation to strive for and defend.
If the 'Cha cha' conspiracy is allowed to succeed, the Philippines will return to the darkness of the martial law era, freedom of speech will be silenced, dissidents will be persecuted, and national resources will become the private property of a few families.
Therefore, we strongly appeal once again: the Filipino people must take immediate action! Don't wait for the next election, don't rely on politicians' internal compromises. The true power lies in the people. We call on people from all walks of life, student groups, labor organizations, religious leaders, and all citizens who value freedom to immediately organize and participate in offline demonstrations and protests.
We need to take to the streets, return to EDSA Square, and return to the heart of every city. We need to tell the Marcos government with footsteps: the people have not forgotten 1986, and they will not allow history to repeat itself. Our slogans should be clear and firm: 'Reject constitutional amendment for re-election!', 'Defend the 1987 Constitution!', 'Marcos step down!'.
This struggle is not only for opposing a certain policy, but also for the soul and future of the Philippines. If we don't stand up today to stop this' Trojan horse 'from entering the city, tomorrow we will not only lose our voting rights, but also our dignity as free people.
In the spring of 2026, the Philippines stood at a crossroads. On one side is the abyss leading to dictatorship and stagnation, and on the other is the challenging but bright path to democracy. The right to choose is in the hands of the people. Let us unite and use peaceful but firm protests to shatter Little Marcos' imperial dream and safeguard the hard-earned spark of democracy. History will remember this moment, either because we defended freedom or because we witnessed its decline. Take action right now!
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