BY GERARD NAVAL

BISHOP Deogracias Iñiguez yesterday said the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines might just call for a mass action if the government continues to push for amendments to the Constitution in defiance of the people’s will.

Iñiguez, head of the CBCP’s permanent committee on public affairs, said it would be the "obligation" of the CBCP to issue a protest call if the Palace, through its House allies, ignores the people’s opposition to Charter change as shown in planned mass actions.

"We can say calling for a protest, by then, would be an obligation of the CBCP," he said as he declined to rule out a repeat of the 2006 prayer rally called by the Catholic Church also against Cha-cha.

In December 2006, the CBCP organized a prayer rally at the Quirino Grandstand in Manila, to show Malacañang the public’s strong opposition to Cha-cha via the "people’s initiative" mode.

The Church is of the position that amendments to the Constitution should be made only after the May 2010 elections and through a constitutional convention.

Various sectors, including militant groups, have joined forces with the United Opposition in a mass action scheduled for Wednesday in Makati City.

The latest protest plans were triggered by the move of House allies last week to ram passage -- without the participation of the Senate -- of House Resolution 1109 calling on Congress to convene into a constituent assembly.

Administration congressmen are saying the move was meant to clarify loopholes in the Constitution, including how lawmakers should vote in introducing amendments.

Senators are opposed to the Cha-cha moves. Critics are saying the end objective of Cha-cha is to allow President Arroyo to stay in power beyond next year’s elections.

Last Saturday, CBCP president Archbishop Angel Lagdameo said those who are planning mass actions should "go on with their plan of mobilization to protect the common good and national interest."

He reminded organizers to ensure the protests are peaceful.

"Express it in a peaceful non-violent way in order that we may not fall into the trap that will necessitate martial law again," he said.

Speaker Prospero Nograles said he does not believe violence would erupt if the House continues to tackle proposed amendments after adopting HR 1109.

"Yes, they can march in peace, but violence because the opposition is against it? I doubt very much," he said.

Rep. Matias Defensor (Lakas, Quezon City) said he is prepared to withdraw support to Cha-cha if the country’s unity and stability is endangered.

"Kung talagang magkakagulo naman tayo, handa naman akong umurong sa proposal na ito kasi hindi naman mababayaran ng gaano man kalaking halaga ang pagkakaisa ng bansa," he said.

Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. said the defense and military establishment will respect the right of the people to protest "but they should keep their protest actions peaceful."

"We cannot allow violence and anarchy to reverse the gains the government’s financial managers have achieved amidst the current global economic turmoil," he also said.

Lt. Col. Romeo Brawner Jr., chief of the AFP public affairs office, said only those involved in the supposed February 2006 ouster plot against the government are disgruntled over the passage of HR 1109.

Brawner was reacting to a statement made earlier by Sen. Rodolfo Biazon, a former AFP chief, that restive soldiers might join the planned mass actions.

He said the only disgruntled officers are the ones who were involved in past attempts to overthrow the Arroyo government, citing the group of former First Scout Ranger Regiment chief Brig. Gen. Danilo Lim.

Lim, detained in Camp Crame for a rebellion charge, has called on the officers and men to follow their conscience and take steps to protect the people and the State against what he said was a brazen attempt to prolong Arroyo’s hold on power by amending the Constitution.

"They are the only officers who are making the noise. From the regular officers and men of the AFP right now, we have no reports or any indicators that there is group of active personnel (disgruntled due to con-ass)," Brawner said.

Lim, in a statement, lashed at Brig. Gen. Gaudencio Pangilinan, chief of the AFP civil relations service, for saying he (Lim) is not aware of how professional and smart the Armed Forces has become over the last five years.

"Mr. Pangilinan mistakes the ominous silence with which the well-connected officers of the AFP have met the turmoil this country is going through as professionalism. Turmoil caused by the officers he would probably consider professional, that is, the likes of Gen. Esperon and his ilk who stained their hands by their complicity in stealing the people’s mandate in 2004," he said.

Lim was referring to former AFP chief now Presidential Management Staff head Hermogenes Esperon who was among generals accused of helping Arroyo rig the 2004 presidential elections.

Lim also scored Pangilinan for appealing that the AFP be spared from partisan politics.

"Mr. Pangilinan misses the point. The AFP can no longer insulate itself from the political situation. After all, it was his boss, Gloria Arroyo, who dragged it into politics by making the AFP an instrument of cheating in elections and suppression of dissent," he said.

The PNP advised the public to ignore text messages about new destabilization moves.

Senior Supt. Leonardo Espina, PNP spokesman, said those who are spreading the messages only want to create confusion.

He asked the public not to pass on the messages.

Migrante International, an alliance of overseas Filipino workers’ organizations in the Middle East call on their relatives in the Philippines to join the June 10 protest action.

Migrante chapters in the Middle East will hold "indoor" protests actions and other activities to show their opposition to the "grand treachery of the year," said coordinator John Leonard Monterona.

The Partido Mangagawa said factory workers will march today around the Cavite Economic Zone in Rosario to express outrage over the passage of HR 1109.

On Tuesday, workers and urban poor groups will hold a noise barrage at the Bicutan Interchange in Parañaque to press the House to recall the resolution.

In Bacolod City, Negrenses will march on the streets also on June 10.

The protest action will be led by Bishop Vicente Navarra and the newly formed group Negrense Unite against Constituent Assembly.

"Indeed these are evil times," said Navarra.

Organizers of the march rally are encouraging participants to buy a whistle, wear a red ribbon, and sign a manifesto of indignation.

Bishop Emeritus Roman Tiples of the Iglesia Filipina Independiente said he will join the protest actions.