No to Cha-Cha! No to GMA!

Amidst the current political crisis besieging the current regime, Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, who has experienced the most number of impeachment complaints, is now attempting to escape charges of corruption, election cheating, economic plunder, and human rights violations by extending her term in office through Charter change. As if the people’s suffering under her administration is not enough, the Arroyo administration shall only exacerbate further the tragic conditions we have found ourselves through Charter proposals that will intensify policies that have only favored those in power.

Tireless Attempts
In 2006, GMA brazenly declared, with the approval from then-Speaker Jose de Venecia and former President Fidel V. Ramos, that it was “time for the great debate on charter change.” That year, we witnessed the staggering haste with which the House of Representatives, under the leadership of De Venecia sought to pursue amendments to the Constitution. Disregarding basic parliamentary and long-established house rules, majority of the House of Representatives, railroaded the passing of a resolution to amend the constitution by calling the Senate to convene into a constitutional assembly. That year, GMA and De Venecia proposed to change the form of government from Presidential to Parliamentary. As incentive to her supporters, she dangled the prospect of membership in the interim parliament. Despite their denials, it is apparent that it is Arroyo and her allies who were nearing their last term in office saw the opportunity to extend their stay in government.

Two years later (one year before GMA’s term will expire), the same moves are being displayed by GMA. This time, she has thrown her full support for Federalism, if only to create the Bangsamoro Juridical Entity which only recently was struck down by the Supreme Court as unconstitutional. In all her attempts, had it not been for the strong public outcry, threats to conduct massive rallies and the very evident lack of support of the people from different sectors, GMA would not have pulled her dogs back.

We say no because every time the great debate is started, the terms of many-a-politicians, GMA especially included, are dubiously about to end. We say no because of the irreverence displayed by GMA and her allies in railroading amendments to the constitution, the highest law of the land, and by-product of our successful overthrow of the Marcos dictatorship. We say no because, as sessions in Congress are about to end, our Representatives and Senators have chosen to bicker over the process of amending our Constitution at the expense of much-needed legislation such as the Reproductive Health Bill and Agrarian Bill which lamentably have been debated on longer than they are willing to debate on the Constitution. Instead of addressing perennial social issues in light of the country’s worsening economic and social conditions, they have chosen instead to focus on the Charter change at the expense of the people’s genuine interests.

Tireless Protest
The Arroyo administration’s tireless attempt at violating our democratic rights and interests is and shall be confronted with the people’s tireless displays of rejection and protests. Akin to the people’s decisive rejection of Fidel Ramos’ attempt at Charter change (which sought to change the form of government from presidential to parliamentary which gave the President and many other politicians the space to extend their terms in office), and Joseph Estrada’s Constitutional Correction for Development (Con-Cord) (which sought to remove the ‘restrictive’ economic provisions in the 1987 Constitution), it is the people, through collective action, who will similarly put a definite end to Gloria Arroyo’s tireless effort to change the Constitution, which, following the trend of her previous attempts, must be rejected for the following reasons:

1. Charter Change is a ploy to perpetuate Mrs. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo in power by setting aside serious questions about her legitimacy and legalizing her term until 2010 and beyond.

2. Charter Change may be used to resurrect martial law.
a. The 60-day limit to martial law and suspension of writ is removed.
b. Congress may not revoke the proclamation of martial law or writ suspension.
c. The Supreme Court can no longer review the factual basis for the declaration of martial law.
d. There will be a new ground for declaring martial law, which is vague and open to abuse.
e. Under transitory provisions, Mrs. Arroyo will have the additional power to dissolve Parliament.

3. Charter Change will sell out national patrimony and economy.
a. Foreign entities will be granted the right to own residential, commercial and industrial land
b. Foreign entities will be allowed to exploit natural resources.
c. Foreign entities will be allowed to control and/or operate public utilities such as water, electricity and telecommunications.

4. Charter Change can further undermine our national identity and culture as it will also allow foreign ownership of mass media, educational institutions and advertising firms.

5. Charter Change will degrade national sovereignty and territorial integrity.
a. It will pave the way for the return of foreign military bases
b. There will be no limit to the entry of foreign troops and facilities.
c. Ratification of treaties and other international agreements favoring foreign interests will be made easier.

By their haste, and very patent personal interests alone, it is obvious why we, the people, are being systematically excluded in this “great debate.” It is not us who stubbornly say no. It is them who stubbornly pursue a change that the people has consistently refused.

No to Cha-Cha.
No to GMA.