Philippines: Bound to fail, opposition says of Charter change revival

Deputy Minority Leader and Bayan Muna Rep. Satur C. Ocampo today said “administration congressmen’s effort to resurrect Charter change is bound to fail” saying “the Arroyo administration’s agenda behind Charter change to stay in power beyond 2010 will face stiff opposition from the people.”

Ocampo issued the statement after the committee on Constitutional Amendments today tackled at least three bills and one resolution seeking to change the Charter.

“The Arroyo administration’s resurrection of Charter change could trigger a fresh and uncontrollable political crisis and contribute to its further isolation from the people. This will add fuel to the people’s flaming resistance against the illegitimate and anti-people regime,” Ocampo warned.

Ocampo said “the Filipino people are fully aware that Ms Arroyo has no other legal option to stay in power beyond 2010. Resurrecting Cha-cha only highlights Ms Arroyo’s self-serving agenda.”

The militant lawmaker added that “the three modes of changing the Charter, the constituent assembly, Constitutional convention, and people’s initiative are “all dead in the water.”

“In both the con-ass and Con-con, the Senate serves as an insurmountable obstacle to Malacanang’s self-serving agenda,” Ocampo said.

“On the other hand,” Ocampo said, “the Supreme Court has already ruled in Lambino vs. COMELEC that people’s initiative applies only to amendments and not to a revision or total overhaul of the Constitution, which is what is involved in changing the form of government.”

“There’s no other option left for Ms Arroyo but to step down. The earlier the better,” he said. #

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