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Photo from Sen. Risa Hontiveros' office

Vivienne Gulla

ABS-CBN News

<div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/20240222-via-hontiveros.jpg" style="width:950px" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/><span id="isPasted" style="color:rgb(65, 65, 65);letter-spacing:normal;orphans:2;text-align:left;text-indent:0px;text-transform:none;widows:2;word-spacing:0px;-webkit-text-stroke-width:0px;white-space:normal;background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255);text-decoration-thickness:initial;text-decoration-style:initial;text-decoration-color:initial;display:inline !important;float:none">The Koalisyon Laban sa ChaCha urged lawmakers and the government to focus on addressing the more pressing concerns of Filipinos instead of using resources to amend the 1987 Constitution. Photo from Sen. Risa Hontiveros&#x27; office </div>MANILA — Hundreds of members of religious groups and people’s organizations trooped to Plaza Roma in Intramuros, Manila on Thursday morning to gather in prayer and protest the ongoing charter change initiatives.Church leaders, nuns, workers, youth participants, and members of urban poor groups linked hands and swayed to the tune of iconic EDSA people power song “Magkaisa”.Many were clad in white shirts as they marched from Delpan Sports Complex, chanting “Simbahan at Komunidad Laban sa ChaCha” and carrying banners with inscriptions: “P100 wage hike now na, ChaCha, ‘wag na”, “Sahod itaas, ChaCha iatras”, “Pagkain, trabaho, lupa, hustisya. Hindi ChaCha”.The Koalisyon Laban sa ChaCha urged lawmakers and the government to focus on addressing the concerns of many Filipinos, including hunger, low wages, and issues in education, instead of using resources to amend the 1987 Constitution. It also called on the Commission on Elections not to validate signatures, which it tagged as “fake”, amid allegations money and government aid were offered in exchange for signing the petition for charter change via people’s initiative.“On these very days, 38 years ago, libu-libo at milyun-milyong Pilipino ang nagtipon-tipon at nagsagawa ng EDSA People Power para sa demokrasya at para sa katarungang panlipunan. Pero ngayon, may nagbabadya. May nagtatangka. Ginagapang na naman ang karapatan ng mamamayan,&quot; Sen. Risa Hontiveros, one of the coalition’s conveners, said in a speech.&quot;Kaya tayo naririto ay para sabihin, na sa ating mga dasal, sa ating mga boses, at sa ating lakas, hahadlangan natin ang pagsusumikap nilang iyan,” she added.Resolutions were filed in both houses of Congress proposing to change certain economic provisions in the 1987 Constitution.The current signature campaign for people’s initiative, meanwhile, seeks to petition that the charter be amended to allow the two houses of Congress to “vote jointly” on amendments and revisions to the Constitution. Should this succeed, the Senate’s 24 members cannot cast any meaningful vote against the House of Representatives with more than 300 members.“Ang panawagan natin sa sambayanan ay patuloy tayong manindigan sa ating karapatan at ‘wag nating hayaang baguhin ang ating saligang batas ng mga mambabatas nang walang tamang konsultasyon, walang tamang edukasyon at walang transparency sa kanilang mga balak at hangarin para sa kanilang planong baguhin ang ating konstitusyon,” Kidapawan Bishop Jose Colin Bagaforo, another convener of the coalition, stressed in an interview with the media.<div>WITHDRAW SIGNATURE?</div>Bagaforo advised those who were misled into signing the petition for charter change to inform relevant authorities about it.The Commission on Elections has released a withdrawal form for voters who want to take back their signature from the petition. It, however, clarified that the suspension on the poll body’s proceedings regarding the people’s initiative remains in effect and that acceptance of withdrawal forms is for recording purposes for now.&quot;Kung pumirma kayo at hindi ninyo alam, ang panawagan sa pastoral letter ay gumawa ng paraan upang maipaabot na peke ang kanilang ginawa, at pangalawa ay napilitan sila, na mayroong deception na nangyari sa kanilang pagpirma,” Bagaforo said.Bagaforo noted that the Church respects the freedom of the faithful to decide on matters like amending the 1987 Constitution, but such decisions should be informed, and made after careful consideration, education, and with full transparency from proponents.<div>RBH 6</div>Hontiveros also expressed doubts the Senate has the needed 18 votes to pass the Resolution of Both Houses 6, which seeks to amend Articles 12, 14, and 16 in the Constitution regarding the restrictions to foreign ownership in public utilities, educational institutions and the advertising industry.She expects seven senators to vote against RBH 6, but did not disclose their the names for now.&quot;Sa Senado, nakapagdaos na ng tatlong pagdinig... Pero tingin ko ‘yung una nilang sinabing mayroon na silang 18 votes para aprubahan ‘yan sa senado, duda ako na accurate ‘yun. Mas accurate sabihin na may fighting chance tayong makabuo ng pito namin, kasama si Senate Minority Leader Koko Pimentel na boboto ng “no” sa RBH 6,” Hontiveros said.“Ang tantiyang iyon ay batay sa mapping namin sa balance of forces sa Senado,” she added.

The Koalisyon Laban sa ChaCha urged lawmakers to focus on addressing the more pressing concerns of Filipinos instead of Charter change.

The Koalisyon Laban sa ChaCha urged lawmakers to focus on addressing the more pressing concerns of Filipinos instead of Charter change.

Religious groups, civil orgs hold anti-ChaCha rally

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Religious groups, civil orgs hold anti-ChaCha rally

Vivienne Gulla,

ABS-CBN News

Published February 22, 2024 05:30 PM PHT

Read More:

Koalisyon Laban sa ChaCha

charter change

1987 Constitution

Church

bishop

Bagaforo

Hontiveros

Senate

RBH6

Chacha

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