Marcos Jr.: Cha-cha plebiscite before 2025 polls costlyPresident Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. graces the 2024 General Assembly of the League of Municipalities of the Philippines at a hotel in Pasay City on February 27, 2024. MANILA, Philippines — Holding the Charter change plebiscite before the 2025 elections will be “very costly” and hard, President Marcos said yesterday, as he confirmed that he prefers the referendum to be conducted alongside the May 2025 midterm polls. On Monday, Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri said Marcos had informed senators that he wanted the plebiscite on the proposed Charter changes to be held simultaneously with the 2025 elections. The House of Representatives, which is dominated by Marcos’ allies, is aiming for a plebiscite by July this year. The Comelec is introducing the use of the Full Automation System with Transparency Audit/Count or FASTrAC in the May 2025 polls.
