MANILA, Philippines — Most Filipino voters oppose key proposals under Charter Change (ChaCha), particularly those that would suspend elections or extend the terms of incumbent officials, while remaining divided on several recent developments in the Senate, according to the latest PAHAYAG survey.
The survey found that 59 percent of respondents opposed extending the terms of incumbent officials until 2031, while only 21 percent supported the proposal. It also showed that 58 percent opposed suspending the 2028 national elections through Charter Change, compared with 22 percent who favored it.
Another proposed constitutional amendment—to raise the minimum age requirement for presidential candidates from 45 to 50 years old—also failed to gain majority support, with 43 percent opposing it and 39 percent supporting it.
In contrast, respondents were generally more favorable toward several recent Senate-related developments.
The survey showed that 52 percent supported the one-day special session of Congress called by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.
Meanwhile, 51 percent approved of both the Supreme Court's denial of Sen. Ronald dela Rosa's petition for temporary relief against a possible arrest related to the International Criminal Court (ICC) and the election of Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian as Senate President Pro Tempore and Acting Senate President.
Some 46 percent also supported the decision of Senators Francis Escudero and Joel Villanueva to join the Senate majority, resulting in a 13-member majority bloc.
Outside the Senate, 48 percent backed increasing the Minimum Access Volume (MAV) for pork imports to address supply shortages and stabilize prices, while 47 percent supported the press conference held by the group known as the "Brave 18" on alleged irregularities in flood control projects.
The survey also found a more divided public opinion on other Senate issues, with 42 percent expressing approval for each of the following: the walkout staged by senators during the May 26 session, the proposal allowing remote voting and attendance for valid reasons, and the assumption of the Senate presidency by Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano following the replacement of Sen. Tito Sotto.
According to PAHAYAG, the findings suggest that while Filipinos remain receptive to discussions on specific policy and institutional reforms, they oppose constitutional amendments perceived as weakening democratic processes or prolonging the tenure of elected officials.
The PAHAYAG PQ2-2026 survey was conducted from June 28 to 30 among 1,509 registered Filipino voters selected from the PureSpectrum online research panel. It has a margin of error of ±3 percentage points. The survey was independently conducted and was not commissioned by any client.
