Bishops Call for Broad-based Unity vs. Cha-Cha

By Trina Federis and Guia Abad

Bulatlat

Posted 9:35 p.m., May 6, 2006

“Because the voice of the people is the voice of God.”

Bishops Julio Xavier Labayen (Infanta), Antonio Tobias (Novaliches), and Deogracias Iñiguez (Caloocan), together with the Kilusan para sa Makabansang Ekonomiya (KME or Movement for a Nationalist Economy), hosted a forum at St. Peter’s Basilica along Commonwealth Avenue, Quezon City at 2:00 pm today.

Attending the forum were people’s organizations such as Bayan (New Patriotic Alliance), Kilusang Mayo Uno (May 1^st Movement), Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas (Peasant Movement of the Philippines), Alliance of Concerned Teachers, Makabayan, Kabataan Party (Youth Party), Partido ng Manggagawa (Worker’s Party), Akbayan Party, Black and White Movement, Sanlakas, Mabini Justice League of the Philippines, among others.

Participants in the forum sang “Ayoko sa Cha-cha ni Gloria (I am against Gloria’s Charter Change”

Soon after, the three bishops held up a sticker with the words “Ayoko kay Gloria, Ayoko sa cha-cha (I am against Gloria, I am against Charter change).”

A manifesto was read by Dr. Sixto Roxas. The manifesto outlined the basis of unity of the participants in the forum -- against “the continued governance of Gloria Macapagal Arroyo (sic)”, “the rapid move to amend or revise the 1987 Constitution masquerading as people’s initiative”, and “Charter change… at this time when the legitimacy of the GMA presidency remains covered-up…” 

Former Vice President Teofisto Guingona, in his closing remarks referred to Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo as “a dark page in the history of the Philippines”, and called on her to “vacate her position.”

He referred to the proposed Charter change as a ploy of the Arroyo government to sidetrack issues such as the “Hello Garci” tapes, the liquid fertilizer scam, the killing of political activists, and the questionable distribution of Phil. Health cards during the campaign for the 2004 elections. Guingona said that because “it is a cover-up, we will oppose cha-cha, we will fight the person who came up with this.”

The participants planned a series of activities to include mobilizing support for the Batasan 5 as they assert their rights by leaving the Batasan Complex on May 8, Monday; protest actions within Metro Manila against Charter change; simultaneous candle lighting from 7 – 8 p.m. everyday  

Bishop Tobias said that a circular based on the manifesto will be read tomorrow in all parishes.

After the mass, those present sang “Bayan Ko”, while proceeding to Commonwealth Avenue to hold a “non-violent candle-lighting protest.” Bulatlat

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