ANG “Charter Change” (Cha-cha) na pagkilos umano upang amyendahan ang 1987 Constitution sa pamamagitan ng sinuspindeng people’s initiative ay inilarawan ni Bishop Pablo Virgilio David ng Caloocan at Presidente ng Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) na isang “move done in bad taste” at idiniin na hindi kailangan baguhin ang Saligang Batas upang umusad ang ekonomiya ng bansa.
Sa lumabas na artikulo ng Philippines Licas News na nakalathala ng Pebrero 4, 2024 nagpahayag ng pagdududa si David sa tunay na motibo ng mga taong nagsusulong ng Cha-cha sa pamamagitan ng naturang signature drive.
Si David ay nagsagawa ng isang virtual press conference kung saan nanawagan ito na palalimin pa at suriin ang panukalang revision sa Saligang Batas.
“Itong naging track record ng people’s initiative, itong move towards amending the Constitution through the people’s initiative, hindi talaga siya maganda ang dating… bad taste na bad taste talaga.
That’s why, parang show us that there is really sincerity and goodwill in these moves. Bakit parang pilit nilang sinasabi na ang pag-amyenda sa Constitution is the solution? What is the problem anyway? Hindi kaya muna pag-usapan ano ba talaga ang problema na sinusolusyonan? Bakit iniisip nila na ito ang solusyon?,”ang sabi ni David ayon sa nakalathalang artikulo.
Iginiit nito ang historical context kung kaya nabuo ang 1987 Charter.
“Talagang bunga ng dugo, pawis at luha ng sambayanang Pilipino ang ating Konstitusyon at mayroon itong background. We don’t want to fall again into the slippery slope towards authoritarianism,” sabi ni David.
Binatikos din ni David ang mga nagpanukalang magdesisyon ng Cha-cha sa pamamagitan ng “voting jointly” na kung saan nagpapakita anyia rito ang kawalan ng respeto ang Kongreso bilang co-equal branch ng Congress, dahil inaasahan nila na boboto ng magkahiwalay ang dalawang kapulungan bilang bicameral legislature.
Ayon naman kay CBCP vice president Bishop Mylo Hubert Vergara ng Pasig dapat ay ibaba ang diskusyon sa Cha-cha sa mga vicariates, parishes, at ibang basic ecclesial communities, kabilang ang mga kabataan bilang mahalagang bahagi ng “vocal constituency.”
“Lumalabas na hindi muna ipinauunawa ng maayos sa karamihan na lumalagda ang mga tunay na dahilan ng petisyong ito,” sabi ni Vergara.
Sinabi naman ni Bishop Jose Colin Bagaforo ng Kidapawan, President ng Caritas Philippines, kailangan aniya ay may “education component “ ang isinusulong na pagbabago sa Konstitusyon.
“Pagsusumikapan po namin sa aming bahagi na makapagbukas ng mga pagpupulong at pagtatalakayan patungkol sa Saligang Batas. So, importante na mapag-usapan, may edukasyon, malaman ng lahat ng mga tao kung ano iyong mga urgent, burning, at saka importanteng issues na may koneksyon o may relasyon sa buhay ng bawat isa,” sabi ni Bagaporo.
“As a nation, we have a Constitution crafted after our peaceful liberation from a dark period in our history. It was created to ensure the well-being of every Filipino citizen. As the former 20th Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, Hilario Davide Jr., said about our Constitution: “… It is the only Constitution that is pro-God, pro-Filipino, pro-People, pro-Poor, pro-Life, pro-Law, pro-Family, pro-Marriage, pro-Human Rights, pro-Women, and pro-Environment…” That is good!Therefore, any discussion about it is crucial and should not be taken lightly,”sabi ni David.
“Dear brothers and sisters, we are writing to you again regarding the Charter change:We are concerned about the reports of signatures gathered across the country for a so-called people’s initiative. Many could sign for various reasons, but it is clear that their signing is not the result of a careful study and discussion. It seems that this people’s initiative was initiated by a few public servants and not truly from the initiative of ordinary citizens. If that is the case, it involves deception and disregard for our true and free participation in the democratic process of our country. Is that good?,”patuloy na pahayag ni David sa nasabing statement.Ma. Luisa Macabuhay-Garcia
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