Groups hit Charter change; broad coalition eyed

NEGRENSES assailed the proposed change in the Constitution and media oppression during the 32nd anniversary of Edsa People Power Revolution over the weekend.

As this developed, a broad coalition of various sectors is looming as the public denounced the proposed charter change and newly-passed tax reform law.

On February 24, protesters from progressive groups marched at downtown Bacolod then converged at the Fountain of Justice, where they slammed the Duterte administration, which they likened to the late dictator Ferdinand Marcos.

The following day, some members of the academe, non-government organizations, and civil society groups trooped to the Capitol Park and Lagoon for the rites led by Tindig Pilipinas.

In both rallies, the protesters cry the same thing -- no to charter change.

Former Negros Occidental governor Rafael Coscolluela, who joined the rally yesterday, said the 1987 Constitution is not the problem.

“Our disenchantment with government arises from the way it is run, not the way it is structured,” he said.

He said the proposed revisions are “loaded with booby traps, self-serving provisions that serve limited political and economic interests.”

“Its worst aspect is a long transitory period that would grant excessive power and control in the hands of a virtual constitutional autocracy and local political dynasties or monoliths,” Coscolluela said.

Bro. Butch Alcudia, director for information of the University of St. La Salle, said he is not calling for the ouster of Duterte, but rather a dialogue for awareness.

“That’s why La Salle is here,” he added.

Moreover, Alcudia said he is for federalism before but has changed his mind.

He said he “doesn’t trust these leaders. If we have better leaders, and better process, maybe we can talk about it (federalism) again.”

A lighting of candles capped the anniversary rites Sunday, February 25.

No to Constitutional dictatorship

Father Chris Gonzales, director of Social Action Center of the Diocese of Bacolod, said the Constitution belongs to the people.

“This Constitution was the product of our freedom after Martial Law, so we have to protect it,” said Gonzales, who spoke at the rally in front of the Bishop’s House on Saturday.

He added: “The 1987 Constitution is not perfect, it also needed amendment, but it needs to retain its flawless provisions.”

Gonzales pointed out that there are those who died to protect the Constitution.

“Let us not forget that the power and sovereignty we give to the government is ours, we have to protect it,” he said.

Michael de la Concepcion, secretary-general of Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan)-Negros, said the People Power anniversary commemorates the people power that ousted a dictator.

“This is a warning to Mr. Duterte, who is nearing his full dictatorship if the Charter Change will pass,” he said.

“We have to stop it. We should not wait to the point that it’s already a Constitutional dictatorship,” he said.

Media oppression

National Union of Journalists of the Philippines (NUJP) and its local chapter, which also joined the anniversary rites, stressed the critical role of the media during the uprising of the people on February 25, 1986.

When Marcos declared Martial Law, one of the first things he did was to shut down the media, NUJP national director Nonoy Espina recalled.

He said Marcos wants to silence the media, who report the truth and information to the public.

Even if there was a clamping down on the press, persistent journalists fought back, which paved for the birth of mosquito press, he said.

“Mosquito press are groups of the media who will do anything to get the truth out,” he said.

In Negros Occidental, it was called Cobra-Ans, he recalled.

“We all thought that democracy was given back to the people. Thirty-two years later, our democracy is being taken away,” he said.

He said the Duterte administration wants to silence the media, “but we will not allow it.”

He added the media serves as watchdogs against the abuses in the government as he called on the public to stand with the media.

“If they can silence the media, the public will also lose their voice,” Espina said.

NUJP-Bacolod members also called on their colleagues “to assert our voices and resist media oppression.”

“Silencing the press is a threat to our democracy,” the group said.

Broad coalition

Andrea Si of Tindig Pilipinas said the broad coalition, which includes the church and progressive groups, has already met.

The two causes -- charter change and tax reform law -- are the points of unity, she said.

Coscolluela said there are many separate groups who are concerned about what is going on in the country.

“It’s important to find a venue, where these different groups and individuals agree on common grounds and pursue affirmative action to address many concerns,” the former governor said.

He added that the initial focus of the coalition is to fight charter change, which is the “most urgent and direct threat.”

Coscolluela said he is hopeful that the coalition will become a venue of people power or “a way to get people together to fight in a concerted effort.” (With reports from Carla N. Canet)

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