Friday, August 29, 2008 Groups vow to oppose Cha-cha
CEBU City civil society groups yesterday warned they will fight plans to introduce amendments in the Constitution while President Arroyo remains in power.
They asked the country’s legislative branch—the House of Representatives and the Senate—to instead focus on the crafting of relevant measures, like approving into law the anti-dynasty and extended agrarian reform bills.
“There are more urgent and very important matters we should focus on. Any move to change the fundamental laws of the land should be abandoned at this time,” said Alvin Dizon, executive committee member of the Akbayan party-list.
He and four others met to react to Rep. Raul del Mar’s (Cebu City, north) instructions to barangay captains last Monday to get the sentiments of their constituents on whether they wanted charter change and in what mode it should be implemented.
The groups said they just could not trust the motive of the present administration in the light of the many scandals it got involved in, like the aborted national broadband network deal and the “Hello Garci” controversy.
National Anti-Poverty Commission representative Debbie Cabanag said that in 2006, the government used the Department of Interior and Local Government in trying to gather signatures for a people’s initiative to amend the Constitution.
“Even government agencies were used,” she said.
Joe Tomongha, Alliance of Progressive Labor chairperson, on the other hand said labor groups are of the same sentiment that Arroyo could not be trusted as she could use charter change to perpetuate herself in power.
For Tomongha, the order to solicit the sentiments of the public is a come-on for last-termers, who have much to gain since they will continue their stay in government.
For Shenna Kim Carisma of the Center for Participatory Governance (CPAG), the government should proceed with the process through a constitutional convention since the people will be better represented.
Ernie Edralin of the Coalition for Citizen’s Constitution likewise said that Congress should be focusing on far more important legislation, like the provisions on wages.
They, however, offered to help del Mar get the true sentiments of the public and educate them about charter change.
“We suggest to our good congressman that it should be done in a democratic way. The civil society groups are willing to help,” Dizon said.
He said they have a network of nongovernment organizations with projects in the barangays that could be tapped for help.
Discussions, he said, should even start in the local development council, where barangays, and even del Mar’s office, are represented.
Dizon said that if the proposal pushes through, they will also be ready to present their dissenting opinion through petitions, manifestos, and even by trooping to the streets. (RHM)
