With 70% of the population opposed to Charter change, according to a recent survey by the Social Weather Station (SWS), the Arroyo government should once and for all end any moves to change the Constitution.
This was the call made by the umbrella group Bagong Alyansang Makabayan as it prepared to mount protests on the occasion of the State of the Nation Address of the president.
“Could there be any clearer proof or indication that the people don’t want Charter change? Mrs. Arroyo’s assurance that there will be elections in 2010 is not enough. Charter change, particularly House Resolutions 1109 and 737 must be junked entirely. Mrs. Arroyo should once and for all end these moves,” said Bayan secretary general Renato M. Reyes, Jr.
The recent surveys also showed that the people believed Mrs. Arroyo was behind the moves to change the constitution to prolong her stay in power.
“Even if there will be elections in 2010, it does not preclude Mrs. Arroyo from seeking office as a representative of Pampanga as a stepping stone to becoming Prime Minister. Having elections in 2010 does not preclude the possibility of having the plebiscite for constitutional change held at the same time,” Reyes said.
“Even if there were elections in 2010, there could still be charter change. They might push for the plebiscite and this will pave the way for a change in the form of government which will benefit Arroyo more than anyone else,” he added.
Bayan repeated its challenge to Mrs. Arroyo to once and for all end the charter change debates by making a clear and categorical statement stopping it. “The SONA would be the best time to put an end to Cha-cha because both chambers of Congress are assembled. Saying there will be elections is not enough. She has to put an end to Cha-cha,” Reyes said.
Some 15,000 protesters are preparing to march to Commonwealth Avenue on July 27 for Arroyo’s last SONA. The big protest will also be a “send-off” for Arroyo who is set to meet US president Barack Obama on July 30. Protests will greet Arroyo in Washington DC, Los Angeles, New York, San Francisco and Seattle. ###
