By Jetty Ayop-Ohaylan
davaotoday.com

President Arroyo says Thursday: “The true power of the people is being felt with the signature campaign to change our form of government.”

DAVAO CITY – Several progressive groups from this city launched on Thursday a signature campaign against Charter change, in an attempt to counter an alleged deceptive campaign by the Arroyo administration to railroad the shift to a parliamentary form of government.

In Tagaytay City, President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo openly declared her advocacy of constitutional amendments through people’s initiative, which involves the gathering of the signatures of at least 12 percent of registered voters nationwide.

In her keynote speech at the 2006 Philippines Development Forum, Arroyo said, “The true power of the people is being felt with the signature campaign to change our form of government.” She labeled as “petty politics” the opposition to the amendments.

“This is why charter change is so important: to help break the back of petty politics of the status quo that may put headlines in the paper but does nothing to put food on the table,” the president said.

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