Friday, August 15, 2008 Bishops to public: Be vigilant vs Charter change
THE Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) on Thursday called for people's discernment in light of the government's attempt to push for the controversial Charter change.
During a radio interview, CBCP president and Jaro, Iloilo Archbishop Angel Lagdameo said the bishops' stand on Charter change was to allow the public to choose and not to dictate upon the people.
He noted that the CBCP as much as possible wanted the Charter amendments to take place after the term of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo or beyond 2010.
And if ever there will be a change in the Constitution, this should be made by a Constitutional Convention (Con-con) and not through a Constituent Assembly (Con-Ass), which is being proposed by the Arroyo government, Lagdameo added.
He said the people should be allowed to participate by giving them the chance to choose the representatives for Charter change.
"The citizens should be given a role in choosing the delegates for Charter change, especially if they will choose Constitutional Convention, wherein members are elected by the people," he said.
The prelate is concerned that the lack of consultation and communal discernment from the people might only create more problems for the country later.
On Tuesday, Press Secretary Jesus Dureza said it is all systems go for the move to amend the 1987 Constitution in a bid to achieve lasting peace in Mindanao.
The statement came on the heels of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo's earlier pronouncement that the Philippine government supports the possible change of the form of government from presidential to federal. (MSN/FP/Sunnex)
