66% OF
FILIPINOS
DO NOT
WANT
CHA-CHA
NOW.
Why are 174
congressmen
forcing it through
H.R. 1109?
The Supreme Court has ruled that
H.R.1109 does not constitute a
justiciable controversy. The House is
faced with two choices. To back off, or to
pursue the issue by proposing cha-cha
without the Senate. For this, they need
a vote equal to at least three-fourths the
number of the Senate and the House
combined. Then they have to ask the
Comelec to conduct a plebiscite.
We appeal to our congressmen and the
administration not to pursue the issue
and divide the country further with
political adventurism. There are more
urgent needs to work on together: we
are feeling the global recession; the
economic gains attained in recent years
have not benefited the poor; and our
democratic institutions are at peril.
Our position today on constitutional
change is the same as in 2006.
ONE VOICE is not against any
amendments to the Constitution.
But if the people really want major
structural and policy changes,
i.e. a shift to a parliamentary or
federal system, or a change in the
economic provisions from the present
more nationalistic design, these should
be done through a constitutional
convention(ConCon) and not a ConAss.
Why? Because in the present political
environment, it is vulnerable to back-
room dealings, political trade-offs, even
corruption. The poor will have no voice.
In contrast, the ConCon is conducted
in public and continuous proceedings
before the full glare of media scrutiny.
We gave political space to the
administration to take steps to restore
the trustworthiness of our institutions.
But it did not.
Instead, governance continued to
deteriorate and self-serving politics
is increasingly the norm of behavior
in public life. The administration
repeatedly pushed the constitutional
boundaries of Executive power. It
stonewalled against giving full access to
information on questionable decisions
and contracts amidst allegations of
corruption in high places.
Instead, the distrust of the people was
heightened by:
• The underperformance on poverty
issues, like agrarian reform, urban
land reform and housing, ancestral (www.onevoice.com.ph).
domain and fisheries, and safety nets
in income, education and health.
• The increase in the incidence and
numbers of the poor, and in the
disparities in income and wealth;
• The high incidence of extra-judicial
and agrarian related killings where
the military/police is suspect in many
cases*
• The damage to our institutions
by the Executive, especially to the
frontline agencies that enforce the
rule of law (civil service, office of
the ombudsman, the courts)
(Philippine Human Development
Report 2008/2009)
• The pervasive corruption and the
increasing lack of transparency
in public accountability, with
their adverse consequences to the
poor. The Philippines has
not been considered a This is a time for thinking deeply about
functioning electoral democracy our country. To protect it from turmoil
since 2007. (Freedom House) and division, strengthen its institutions
and put it back on track to fulfill the
This is clearly not a time for cha cha.
promise of EDSA 1--that of a just and
Instead, the administration should be
progressive society. As citizens, what
preparing for a peaceful and graceful
can we do?
transfer of power by June 30, 2010.
First, educate ourselves. Read up on
• The 2010 presidential elections
issues. Discern the commentaries and
should be held as scheduled.
reports of media. Attend fora.
• Voters, especially the youth, must
Second, talk with one another, with
register to vote.
those who agree with us as well as
• The elections must be free, fair and
those who don’t and those who have
credible;
not yet formed their views. Find unity in
• The Arroyo administration must step
the vision of a better Philippines. And
down by June 30, 2010.
in peaceful and democratic means to
• We should choose new leaders with a
achieve it.
total commitment to social reform,
Third, speak up. Write to your
who are competent in governance
congressman, to your local leaders, to the
and have the political will to do
newspapers. Call tv and radio programs.
right by the people, regardless
Join online discussions (or visit www.
of personal interests. Otherwise, it
causes.com/StopConAssNow).
would be more of the same thing
Fourth, link up with groups that
with different faces.
share your beliefs. Your NGO, village
As in the past, we must be vigilant association, civic club, professional
against: or religious groups. Or join One Voice
(1) Any attempt to cheat in the elections,
When the voice of the silent is made
with or without automation. To avert
known to our leaders, whether in or out
No-El or failure of election,
of government, we can find our way step
there should be a back-up plan to
by step into a less uncertain and better
automation, so that by latest Nov
future. Together we can all be part of
2009, a decision can be made
the solution.
to scale down, or revert
to total manual, or adapt OES
(manual vote and precinct Stop the Con Ass.
count plus automated canvassing). Transfer power through the
(2) Any attempt to establish any form of
authoritarianism; 2010 Elections.
(3) Any over-reaction to provocation or
inducement from the extreme right
Fulfill the promise of Edsa I.
or left that might result in civil
disorder. While they have different
end-games – martial law on the one
hand and revolutionary upheaval on
the other – any violent contest for
power will be disastrous for our
country.