NDF Condemns Attempts To Change RP Charter

DAVAO CITY (Mindanao Examiner / 11 Dec) - The National Democratic Front (NDF) in Southern Mindanao on Monday condemned attempts by lawmakers allied with President Gloria Arroyo to change the Philippine Constitution despite a widespread public opposition.

Lawmakers were pushing for a Constituent Assembly to tamper with the Charter that would prolong their stay in power, opposition politicians said.Church leaders, civil and militant groups have threatened to stage a mass action to protest the move by Congress to change the Constitution.

Arroyo’s allies said there is a need to amend the Constitution and shift to Parliamentary government, but politicians opposed to this fear that the move will prolong the President into power beyond her term in 2010.

“The NDF commends the broad masses of our people, the Church and evangelical groups, and opposition lawmakers in vigilantly exposing and opposing the devious Charter Change (Cha-cha) scheme of the Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo regime,” said Rubi del Mundo, the NDF spokesman, said in a statement sent to the Mindanao Examiner.

Changing the Philippine Charter will only perpetuate Arroyo to power, he said.The NDF is the political wing of the Communist Party of the Philippines, which is fighting the government for the establishment of a Maoist state in the country. (Mindanao Examiner)