MANILA, Philippines (Mindanao Examiner / Dec. 12, 2008) – Thousands of angry Filipinos gathered Friday in the country’s financial district in Makati City to protest a government-backed proposal to amend the Constitution that would eventually prolong President Gloria Arroyo and her allies in power.
Militant groups and progressive organizations, including church leaders gathered took turns in criticizing Arroyo for moves to change the Constitution. Arroyo controls the majority in the House of Representatives, but the Senate vowed to oppose sinister moves to amend the Constitution that would prolong Arroyo’s term beyond 2010.
House Speaker Prospero Nograles and Rep. Mikey Arroyo, the President’s son, are pushing for changes in the laws of the land, saying, it is needed to introduce economic reforms, among others.
“We hate Arroyo. This country is in ruins and her government rocked by scandals left and right. We don’t need them, all those who are pushing for charter change because they have vested interests too and that’s to prolong their stay also in office,” said John Santa Maria, a local resident.
Rep. Liza Maza said she will continue to oppose Arroyo’s attempt to stay longer in power.
“Undeniably, all these sinister strategies for charter change would clearly benefit President Arroyo and her cohorts. It is never an act directed to resolve the pressing concerns of extreme poverty, rising unemployment, massive human rights violations and systemic corruption in the government.”
“This will only worsen the plight of the Filipino people knowing that the brains behind this plot have nothing but greed and guilt,” Maza said.
Political activists also held protests in Davao City and denounced Nograles’ campaign to change the Constitution.
“This activity highlighted the people's broadening consensus against charter change. Gloria Arroyo and her political allies in the Senate and in the lower House can never be successful in their attempt to change the constitution,” said John Birondo, Bayan party list spokesperson, said.
”We will stay on guard of the situation. In fact, our ongoing dialogues with other more individuals and organizations within and outside the city are now leading to a broader composition of an anti-cha-cha (Charter change) movement,” he said.
Bayan also criticized Nograles, who proposed to change the Constitution to allow foreign ownership of the country's lands and natural resources.
“While our unities primarily delve on protecting our sovereignty and national patrimony, there is no way we will allow Gloria Arroyo to stay in Malacañang longer than she is supposed to,” Birondo said. “The Filipino people can no longer afford to have more of Gloria Arroyo's fascism, corruption, and deceits.”
Arroyo's allies in Congress have earlier proposed to amend the Constitution to change the system of government from presidential to parliamentary or federalism.
Under the presidential form of government, Arroyo is allowed only one six-year term, but in the charter change proposal she can be elected as prime minister should Congress dissolve the Senate and change the system of government to parliamentary and eventually prolong her into power beyond 2010.
Arroyo deposed President Joseph Estrada in a people power revolution in 2001, but corruption scandals in her government and allegations of poll fraud in 2004 has made her extremely unpopular.
(Mindanao Examiner)
