Tuesday, June 06, 2006
Socsargen groups unite v. Cha-cha
KORONADAL CITY -- The ranks of those opposed to Charter change (Cha-cha) have grown big following the formation of a multi-sectoral coalition in the provinces of South Cotabato and Sarangani and in General Santos City.
Late last month, various groups formally launched Koalisyon Kontra Cha-cha-Socsargen to oppose the "people's initiative" for Charter change being pushed by Sigaw ng Bayan.
In forming the coalition, Fr. Romeo Catedral, Social Action Center director of the Diocese of Marbel, said moves to change the Constitution are not initiated by the people but by Malacañang.
"We are objecting to the current moves of the government in pushing for charter change, such as the recently circulated petition for people's initiative in the diocese where most of the people were made to sign without actually having an idea of what they are signing," he said.
Banga, South Cotabato Vice Mayor Alex Garcia said town officials are also opposed to the Charter change because the process lacks transparency.
"The process of informing the people was taken for granted. This is not the way Charter change should be approached. This is a sensitive matter that our people ought to know very well," the official said during the coalition's launching.
Catedral said the diocese, through its justice and peace desk, and coalition members are ready to assist individuals who were duped into signing the petition.
The diocesan territory covers the provinces of South Cotabato, Sarangani, parts of Sultan Kudarat and the cities of General Santos and Koronadal.
Aside from the diocese, other members of the coalition include the Freedom From Debt Coalition, Akbayan, Movement for the Advancement of Student Power-Gensan, Center for the Advancement and Strengthening of Community Property Rights, Building Alternative Rural Resource Institutions and Organizing Services Inc., and Alyansang Nagkakaisang Lakas ng Kabataan sa Komunidad.
The coalition members believe that current efforts to change the Charter will not change the corrupt political system.
"It will still be dominated by the same old set of traditional politicians who stand to benefit from an extended term of office until 2010. This is what the present people's initiative is aiming at," the coalition said in a statement.
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(June 5, 2006 issue)
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