Bayan slams initiatives for cha-cha

Press Release

December 5, 2008

Davao City – Bagong Alyansang Makabayan slammed here today in a picket rally the mounting initiatives for charter change saying “the whole effort of the Arroyo regime to amend the constitution boldly shows its agenda for political supremacy and continued submission to US imperialist dictates.”

Bayan underscored the proposed amendment on Article 12 sections 2 and 3 of the Philippine Constitution and the extension of Gloria Macapagal Arroyo’s term beyond 2010 as the main stresses of the cha-cha initiatives.

“The bottom line of the crises in our country is Gloria Arroyo herself and her regime’s policies that intensify US intervention in the economic and political affairs of the country,” Bayan-SMR spokesperson John Birondo said.

“There is no truth in the economic and political developments that Gloria Arroyo and her allies are propagating in their calls to change the constitution,” Birondo added.

Birondo stressed that the initiatives for cha-cha generally want to eliminate the protectionist provisions in the Philippine constitution as a way to allow 100% foreign ownership of our lands and natural resources. “This is a complete sell-out of our national patrimony and sovereignty,” he added.

“There is poverty and landlessness in our country basically because we have long been allowing foreign investors to exploit our lands, natural resources, and labor forces. Bureaucracy in the country has served more for the satisfaction of foreign capitalist interests than it should be for our own people’s welfare,” Birondo said.

“More dangerously, the move to amend the constitution will lead to the extension of Gloria Arroyo’s fascist, corrupt and anti-people regime,” Birondo stressed.

Bayan cited the millions of Filipino workers who have lost their jobs because of the government’s anti-labor policies. About 16 million Filipinos are currently unemployed while majority of those who are employed earn below minimum wages.

Bayan added that about 9 out of 10 Filipino families experience hunger everyday and are considered the country’s poor.

“The Filipino people have had enough of Gloria Arroyo. Her lies, corrupt and fascist practices annihilate our dignity as a people. We will not allow her cha-cha and other political ambitions to further inflict pain and difficulties to the people, ” Birondo said.