Uniting for a cause
Various people’s organizations and religious groups launched Wednesday, Feb. 14, a coalition against a renewed push for Charter change (Cha-cha) which they said will not solve the country’s problems, contrary to its proponents.
Koalisyon Laban sa Cha-cha — convened by Bishop Jose Colin Bagaforo of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines, Bishop Jonel Milan of the K4Philippines Intercessors Movement, Minnie Anne Mata-Calub of the National Council of Churches in the Philippines, Sen. Risa Hontiveros of Tindig Pilipinas, Josua Mata of Nagkaisa Labor Coalition, and Justine Balane of Akbayan Youth — denounced the fresh moves to revise the 1987 Constitution as “selfish.”
Our Constitution is robust but not fully implemented and completed with the necessary implementing laws. The leaders we entrusted with power do not fully implement the Constitution and provide necessary implementing laws because of selfish agenda.
It also refuted claims of lawmakers campaigning for Cha-cha that the Constitution is to blame for chronic poverty and that its economic provisions are too restrictive for foreign investments.
The group vowed to uphold the Constitution, particularly its social justice provisions, and to protect the sanctity of processes to amend or revise the Charter so that these will not be used to exploit people.
As it traced the opposition to previous Cha-cha attempts, the coalition said there is no reason to change the Constitution now, especially under a president “in denial of the corruption and human rights abuses of his father’s dictatorial regime.”
True unity
Bishop Bagaforo, who chairs the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines’ Episcopal Commission on Social Action, Justice and Peace and heads Caritas Philippines, called the current push for Chacha “questionable.”
“We view attempts to alter the Constitution, especially with questionable motives and limited public participation, as threatening our nation’s well-being,” Bagaforo said.
“The 1987 Constitution is not a political plaything. It was crafted after a dark period to serve the Filipino people, upholding human dignity, human rights and the common good. We echo the CBCP’s stance: Any revision must adhere to these moral principles,” he said.
The National Council of Churches in the Philippines (NCCP), an ecumenical fellowship of non-Roman Catholic denominations in the country, also rejected the current push for Cha-cha, saying it will not help people.
“It will open up the economy to further foreign exploitation and foreign military basing. The former will further mire the people in poverty while the latter will compromise Philippine sovereignty,” Jennifer Ferariza-Meneses, NCCP’s vice-chairperson for women, said.
Hontiveros hailed the “true unity” of people’s organizations and religious groups joining forces against Chacha despite having come from different walks of life.
“Ito ang tunay na pagkakaisa: Ang pagkakaisa ng taumbayan na lalaban para sa kapakanan ng nakararami, hindi para lang sa interes ng iilan,” she said.
(This is true unity: The unity of the people who will fight for the good of the majority, not just for the interests of the few.)
The senator urged people to join the coalition and other groups against Cha-cha as she underscored the need to further strengthen the campaign against this attempt to tamper with the Constitution.
“Pagod na tayo sa pagtangis dahil sa mga nasaktang puso at napakong pangako (We are tired of crying because of broken hearts and broken promises),” Hontiveros said. “Kaya pupunasan na natin ang ating luha at buong-loob na papasanin ang krus ng laban kontra sa Cha-cha para ang ating bayan ay maging tunay na bayang magiliw (So let’s wipe our tears and wholeheartedly bear the cross of the fight against Cha-cha so that our country can become a truly friendly country).
Focus on true needs of Pinoys
Fr. Antonio Labiao, Caritas’ executive secretary, said that instead of tinkering with the Constitution, the government should instead work to eradicate corruption, protect the environment, break political dynasties, and ensure electoral integrity.
“A just and equitable society for all Filipinos cannot be achieved through self-serving Charter changes but through a genuine commitment to the people’s welfare. We urge the government to fulfill its duty and prioritize the needs of its citizens,” Labiao said.
Josua Mata of Nagkaisa Labor Coalition and Kalipunan ng Kilusang Masa said what the people truly need are living wages, jobs and rights.
“Kung wala dito ang puso ninyo, malamang kapangyarihan at kayamanan lang ang habol ninyo (If your heart is not in it, you are probably only after power and wealth)!” Mata said. “We urge our legislators to prioritize policies that would address the chronic poverty amid the widening gap of income inequality in the country.”
Akbayan Youth chairperson Justine Balane said student councils, Sanggunian Kabataan and youth leaders all over the country are rising up against Charter change, which he said will “short-change” the youth.
“The youth rejects a future where the elite have unlimited years in power, our economy is owned by foreign billionaires, and the people are starved of their human rights,” Balane said. “Walang pakinabang ang kabataan at mag-aaral sa (Youth and students won’t benefit from) Cha-cha. This trapo-led Charter change will only shortchange our future.”
“In the face of our nation’s pressing problems, present Charter change initiatives are divisive, wasteful and unnecessary. We urge our politicians to put solving our people’s hunger, poverty, and poor education first!” said Ging Quintos Deles of Tindig Pilipinas and Buhay Ang Edsa Campaign Network.
We vow to sustain efforts to defend democracy. We are Filipinos. We have the responsibility, courage and fervor to strive for the governance of truth, justice, freedom, love, equality and peace in this generation and future generations.