BY GERARD NAVAL
A CATHOLIC prelate yesterday warned of
"fiery" mass actions if the House allies of President Arroyo
persist in pushing through with Charter Change (Cha-Cha).
"Galit ang tao. Kung ipipilit nila, I think,
hell is going to break loose lalo’t ganitong panahon na nasa
gitna tayo ng krisis. Why do we add fire? Lumiliyab na yan eh,
meron pang ganyang issue," Marawi Bishop Edwin dela Peña said
over Church-run Radio Veritas.
The bishop said the people do not support
Cha-Cha at this time because of the credibility problem of the
Arroyo administration.
Dela Peña said that if economic policy
changes are the real purpose of amending the Constitution, such
improvements can still be made without having to tinker with the
Charter.
"I think we should really focus on something
that would help ease suffering of the people. Yung Cha-Cha naman,
that can wait," he said.
The House committee on constitutional
amendments on Tuesday tackled parallel resolutions to amend the
Constitution.
The panel chaired by Rep. Victor Ortega (Kampi,
La Union) began deliberations on Speaker Prospero Nograles’
House Resolution 737 which calls for amendments "to allow the
acquisition by foreign corporations and associations and the
transfer or conveyance of alienable public and private lands."
A resolution of Kampi president Luis
Villafuerte calls for Congress to convene as a Constituent
Assembly to amend the Charter but it is yet to be referred to
the committee for deliberations.
Former President Fidel Ramos on Tuesday urged
President Arroyo to stop moves to amend the Charter saying it is
already too late to organize such an important exercise.
The National Movement for Free Elections (Namfrel)
said the congressmen pushing for Cha-Cha should discontinue
their plan as it does not have public support.
"We hope na sabihan ang mga kongresista na
ang gusto ng people, na kung gusto ma-express ang free will nila,
matuloy ang 2010 elections," said Namfrel chairwoman Henrietta
de Villa.
Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita said
Malacañang will not stop its allies in the House from pushing
Charter Change out of respect for a co-equal body.
He said worries about President Arroyo
extending her term through Charter Change are unfounded.
Sen. Mar Roxas filed a bill seeking to
convene a Constitutional Convention (Con-Con) to amend the 1987
Constitution, aimed at opposing parallel plans at the House to
institute constitutional changes without the consent of the
Senate.
Senate Bill 2923 proposes the election of two
delegates from each legislative district simultaneous with the
2010 national elections. The convention will then be given one
year to draft its proposed amendments to the Constitution, after
which a plebiscite will be held for ratification.
By electing Con-Con delegates, the public
themselves will have a hand in deciding what changes to the
Constitution will be made, since candidates to the convention
will be campaigning based on their proposed amendments,
according to Roxas.
Roxas said the call for a Con-Con to be
elected along with other national and local officials in the
2010 elections is more practical and resolves the dispute on
when and how the Constitution should be amended.
Presidential political adviser Gabriel
Claudio said Malacañang will seek a "consensus" among lawmakers
and the political leaders on the need for Charter Change.
Claudio made the pronouncement after Bro.
Mike Velarde threatened to mobilize at least three million
members of El Shaddai to take part in anti-Cha-Cha protests if
the administration insists on lifting the term limits of
officials by amending the Constitution.
"Without abandoning the administration’s
advocacy in order to secure the country’s economic and political
stability, we will seek a dialogue with leaders of the House to
help forge a consensus on Charter Change that is acceptable to
the people," he said.
The United Opposition welcomed the move of
Velarde.
"We urge him to make good his threat and we
welcome him to join our rally on December 12 at Makati," UNO
spokesman Adel Tamano said.
Tamano said "if there is one issue that cuts
across all political and religious groups and unites the vast
majority of Filipinos, it is our stand against GMA’s Cha-Cha."
Religious, civil society and militant groups
are planning an interfaith rally dubbed "Labanan ang Cha-Cha ni
Gloria" on December 12 at Ayala Avenue and Paseo de Roxas in
Makati City.
Former President Joseph Estrada lauded
Velarde for opposing moves to amend the Constitution.
"I will lead the people in the streets to make our voice
heard if I have to," Estrada added, "even if they (the
Administration) threaten to imprison me again," he said. –
With Dennis Gadil and Regina Bengco