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Thursday, March 30, 2006
Church leaders hit Cha-cha signature drive
By Lizanilla J. Amarga
CHURCH leaders voiced Wednesday their opposition to the signature drive for Charter change through people's initiative and called on the public to be more vigilant.
But Cagayan de Oro City Mayor Vicente Emano disclosed that numerous signatures for Charter change were already gathered in Misamis Oriental.
Emano's announcement was amid how Misamis Oriental Governor Oscar Moreno believes the same signature drive to shift from presidential to parliamentary form of government would eventually be declared unconstitutional by the Supreme Court.
Second District of Misamis Oriental Representative Augusto Baculio Jr., for his part, apologized that he was unable to "personally" attend the signature drive in his legislative area.
In separate interviews with Sun.Star Cagayan de Oro, Archdiocese of Cagayan de Oro vicar general Monsignor Rey Monsanto and Iglesia Filipina Independente Bishop Felixberto Calang voiced their aversion to the people's initiative signature drive.
Monsanto explained that even if this signature drive for Charter change would be declared as constitutional it is still being rammed down the throats of the people.
Sensible study
Monsanto added that they even received reports that some signed the Charter change forms "for promise of rice or some amount of money."
He said it is best that any constitutional change should be done through Constitutional Convention (ConCon) mode rather than the Constitutional Assembly or People's Initiative, as what is now being conducted in the city.
"Such radical change from presidential to parliamentary form of government should be through the ConCon," he said.
The Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines earlier came out with a statement supporting ConCon as the best form of changing the Constitution.
Calang said the conduct of people's initiative is "morally questionable" and that the public should be more vigilant and not easily deceived by those involve in its campaign.
He said this as he cited how the signature campaign is conducted "without the benefit of a sensible study on the true intent and effects of Charter Change."
"People don't necessarily understand what is this in relation with their struggle for life during these critical times," said Calang.
Educational level
Calang said they are totally opposed to changing the Constitution.
He added that their Church is conducting its own signature drive but that it is still in the "educational level."
Meanwhile, Emano said 24 mayors, excluding Mayor Ruthie Guingona of Gingoog City, has so far been exerting all their efforts to help him out in this campaign.
The mayor recently had a closed door meeting with the 22 town mayors from Misamis Oriental to discuss the signature campaign with them.
Earlier, Association of Barangay Captains-Misamis Oriental chairman Emeritu Acain said they are still undecided on whether they would support the signature drive.
Not lie
Acain's group is still trying to establish their stand, as Moreno and Emano are at odds on this issue.
They also want to take into consideration the positions taken by Representative Danilo Lagbas of the First District and Representative Augusto Baculio Jr. of the Second District of Misamis Oriental.
Moreno said the changing of the constitutional provisions from bicameral form of government to unicameral is a major revision and could not be done through people's initiative.
He said this as he cited how the Supreme Court declared null and void the attempts of "PIRMA", an organization that also launched a signature drive to change the Constitution during former President Fidel Ramos's administration.
"The signature campaign will not lie. The Supreme Court will declare that unconstitutional," he said.
Moreno added that there is also the requirement of a sufficient enabling law for amending the Constitution through people's initiative.
But Emano said, "There is already an enabling act but this was declared to be insufficient or inadequate but this can now be reviewed."
Respect
The mayor also called on those who are opposed to the signature drive and those who believe that the same would be declared unconstitutional to respect those who are supporting it.
"Just air out your opposition to the signature drive but do not nasty against those who are supporting it," Emano said.
Baculio through his chief of staff Jun Barros said, "Congressman Baculio express deep admiration for the efforts exerted by Mayor Emano, the barangay captains and the municipal mayors in this signature drive."
He then apologized that the congressman failed to personally assist in the signature campaign.
"Congressman Baculio would have wanted to personally help in gathering the signatures but he was bogged down with the budget hearings in Manila," Barros said.
(March 30, 2006 issue)
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