The House of Bishops of the Episcopal Church of the Philippines has denounced a government-backed bill to amend the nation’s constitution, saying the proposed charter change, “cha-cha”, is a ploy to keep President Gloria Arroyo in power.On July 30 the bishops added their voice to the chorus of religious and civil society leaders, including the late President Corazon Aquino, in denouncing HR No 1109.
The bill, which has passed the Philippine House of Representatives and is presently before the Senate, seeks to amend the Constitution through the convening of a constituent assembly “con-ass”.
Supporters — including business and government elites and the army --- claim cha-cha would strengthen the rule of law and provide accountability within the state by moving from a presidential system to a parliamentary system form of government. It would provide an economic boost to the lagging economy by restoring investor confidence in the regime.
However, opponents of the cha-cha say there is no connection between constitutional reform and economic growth, charging that cha-cha is an attempt to keep the present ruling elites in power after President Gloria Arroyo’s term ends in 2010.
The bill calls for the House and Senate to meet as one body in the con-ass to draft a new constitution. However, critics charge that as Arroyo’s supporters control the more numerous lower house, their votes would nullify the restraining hand of the senate, if they met as a single body.
"The congressmen's unreasonable insistence to pursue Charter change despite strong public opposition validates our fears that the President will use them in the Constituent Assembly to perpetuate herself in power," the bishops said. Religious groups have been among the key opponents of cha-cha.
In 2006 the Roman Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines issued a statement questioning the benefits of cha-cha, saying constitutional reform could be hijacked by special interest groups.
The Association of Major Religious Superiors of the Philippines added that cha-cha was a smoke screen to cover up the "sins" of President Arroyo.
While the Catholic bishops have so far remained silent on HR 1109, the Association of Major Religious Superiors along with the country’s Protestant leaders have denounced the bill. On June 10, former President Aquino sent a message to an anti-cha-cha rally in Makati stating “Here we are again in the midst of the shameful abuses of the powerful that seek to destroy our sacred laws.
“Over the years, I have learned to endure pain and sadness,” President Aquino wrote. “But perhaps, there is nothing that causes me greater pain than to see our people betrayed again and again by those they have elected to lead and serve them. To those of us who fought long and hard to restore our democracy, the pain deepens at the thought that all our gains have so quickly been eroded.”
President Aquino’s death on July 31 prompted President Arroyo to ask her allies in Congress, led by her son, Rep Mikey Arroyo to pull the bill. However, no final decision has yet been made on a Senate vote.
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