Mobilization fund
The Comelec office in Mt. Province reportedly received a memorandum from the national office on March 29 to verify the signatures gathered by the officials and the DILG.
Barangay officials in Mt. Province reportedly said that the signature campaign was for the holding of the 2007 elections. Other residents in areas where anti-Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo (GMA) sentiments are strong were invited to sign the petition, claiming it is intended to change the president.
Barangay councilor Reginald Uggaddan of Centro, Tumauini, Isabela, said some of his co-officials gave away one can of sardines and P20 for each person who would sign the form. “This move only aggravates our already worsened political and economic crises. This is GMA’s desperate move to maneuver administration toward her gain.”
A Northern Dispatch source from Mt. Province claimed that a mobilization fund for the signature campaign was given by the DILG national office to their provincial office. As of press time, Northern Dispatch tried to contact the DILG Provincial Officer and the Comelec-CAR regional director but to no avail.
Synchronized assemblies
Felipe Gelle, secretary general of the Negros chapter of Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan or New Patriotic Alliance) condemned the use of government funds, resources and personnel for the signature campaign. Gelle said that DILG Memorandum Circular 2006-25 issued by Sec. Ronaldo Puno set the synchronized convening of the barangay assemblies.
“It seems that Speaker de Venecia and illegitimate President Gloria Arroyo want to resurrect the ghost of the 1973 Marcos trick of convening a people’s assembly to legalize the 1973 Constitution. It was merely through a process of ‘viva voce’ and raising of hands that the constitution was approved and later affirmed by the Marcos-controlled Supreme Court, Gelle said.
Gelle called on the people not to sign the petition or to allow the DILG personnel and local government officials to use the barangay assembly for this scheme. He also called on the local public officials to take a stand against charter change which was “only in the self-serving interest of traditional politicians to entrench themselves in power.” Reports from Karl G. Ombion (Negros), Johann Arpon (Eastern Visayas), Arthur Allad-iw and Michael Agonoy (Northern Dispatch) / (Bulatlat.com)
