Hontiveros: Bagong Pilipinas rally linked to Cha-cha push

Senate Deputy Minority Leader Risa Hontiveros on Monday alleged that the Bagong Pilipinas kick-off rally that was held Sunday in Manila was connected to the push to amend the 1987 Constitution.

In a privilege speech, Hontiveros presented documents allegedly issued by various government offices, including the Philippine Ports Authority, Department of Social Welfare and Development, and City Government of Manila which gave instructions to call participants to attend the event.

She likewise claimed that social aid like the Assistance to Individuals in Crisis (AICS) were used as "payoffs."

"Dumating na nga sa paghahakot para sa tinawag nilang Bagong Pilipinas movement na rally sa Quirino Grandstand. Ang sabi ng Presidential Communications Office o PCO, wala daw itong kinalaman sa tulak para sa people’s initiative. Mawalang galang po, pero sino po ang niloko ninyo?" Hontiveros said, adding that the exercise was "well-coordinated."

(They have resorted to mobilizing crowds for their so-called Bagong Pilipinas movement at the rally in Quirino Grandstand. According to the PCO, this is not connected to the push for people’s initiative. With all due respect, who are they trying to fool?”)

GMA News Online is still trying to get a comment from Malacañang and will publish it as soon as it is available.

"Worse, ginamit pa ang mga lehitimong serbisyong panlingap para pilitin ang mga bulnerableng tao na dumalo. Ito po, example ng mga AICS payout na ginagawang pabuya para makadalo sa rally. Kaya hindi po nakakapagtaka kung bakit ganoon po kadami ang dumagsa sa Quirino Grandstand kahapon, eto po kumikinang sa kaputian ang mga video," she said while showing a photo of a package which label read as "Bagong Pilipinas Serbisyo Fair AICS Payout-District 6" and with the details of the event on Quirino Grandstand.

(Worse, they used legitimate services in providing assistance to force vulnerable people to attend. An example is the AICS payout that became a reward for attending the rally. So it’s no wonder so many people trooped to Quirino Grandstand yesterday, you can see it in the brightly shining video.)

The opposition lawmaker said the PCO "is making a fool out of the people" if it insists that the event has nothing to do with charter change.

"I have evidence that payouts were taking place at the rally and given to those who signed the petition or mobilized others to sign the petition," she said.

"Hindi ito tungkol sa patriyotismo o pagmamahal sa bayan. Tinipon ang mga kababayan natin para sa mga pirma nila, kasama ang napakaraming mga 'souvenir,'" she added.

(This is not about patriotism or love of country. Our countrymen were assembled for their signatures, plus the many ‘souvenirs’.)

She then hit the alleged attempt to dilute the powers of the Senate through the ongoing people's initiative which most of the senators believe was ordered by Speaker Martin Romualdez, the first cousin of President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr.

"The bigger story is that by sheer mathematical numbers, the House of Representatives, the leadership of which is by tradition aligned with the Executive, could unilaterally change the Constitution according to the dictates and desires of the sitting President.  Hindi lang po ito sa Presidente ngayon, kundi ang lahat ng susunod na president sa kasaysayan ng Pilipinas," Hontiveros said.

(This isn’t just for the current President, but for every succeeding President in the history of the Philippines.)  

"Paano kung ang susunod na liderato ay gusto padaliin ang proseso ng pagdeklara ng martial law? O tanggalin ang mga karapatan ng manggagawa? Paano kung gusto lusawin ang Bill of Rights? O tanggalin ang term limits ng Presidente? Katawa-tawa naman ‘yan, na pag ang usapin ay papalitan ang pangalan ng kalsada, o kaya gagawa ng  national high school, sasabihin, magkahiwalay na pasya ng Senado at HOR. Pero, pero sa usapin ng Saligang Batas, na kaluluwa ng bansa, House lang ang magpapasya?" she went on.

(What if the next leadership wants to make the process easier to declare martial law? Or remove the rights of workers? What if they want to abolish the Bill of Rights? Or remove the term limits of the President? This is amusing, when we’re talking about changing the name of a street, or building a national high school, they would say the Senate and the House of Representatives have separate decisions. But when it comes to the Constitution, the soul of our nation, only the House gets to decide?)  

Should this be allowed, Hontiveros said this will not just unbalance the power of the Senate and the House of Representatives, but will also weaken the country's democracy.

Marcos vs Duterte

In the same privilege speech, Hontiveros also took a swipe at the recent word war between the camps of former President Rodrigo Duterte and incumbent President Marcos.

"Kahapon, isinagawa ang Bagong Pilipinas movement na rally sa Quirino Grandstand. Sa Davao naman, may prayer rally. At ngayon, Lunes, nakatayo na tayo sa sangandaan ng kasaysayan. Now that the dust has settled, we can see clearly now. Malinaw na ang lahat sa ating mga kababayan. Ang malinaw sa lahat: parang may mali. Pinangakuan nila tayo ng unity, pero wala pang midterm, wala na kaagad na kahit anong bahid ng unity," she said.

(Yesterday, they held the Bagong Pilipinas movement rally at the Quirino Grandstand. Meanwhile in Davao, there was a prayer rally. Today, Monday, we stand at the crossroads of history. It’s now clear to our countrymen. What is clear to everyone: something seems wrong. They promised us unity, but we haven’t reached the midterm, now there is not even a hint of unity.”)

"Nanalo kayo dahil pagod na ang ordinaryong Pilipino sa away at girian, pero ano ang ipinakita niyo nitong Linggo? Tunggalian na naman. Kontrahan na naman. Pinapili na naman ang mga Pilipino sa pagitan ng dalawang maimpluwensiyang pamilya," she added.

(You won because the ordinary Filipino is tired of fighting and conceit, but what did you show us last Sunday? Fighting once more. Conflict once more. Filipinos are once more being forced to choose between two influential families.) 

Hontiveros then pointed out that unity is not with the "powerful families who have their own agenda" but with the ordinary Filipinos who love their country.

"Kay Presidente at sa mga naghahari-harian sa Davao: We see through you. We see through your lies and grandiose promises. You will not divide us. Hindi nyo mabubuwag ang demokrasya at kalayaan sa bansang ito," she said.

(To the President and those pretending to be kings in Davao: We see through you… You cannot topple democracy and freedom in this country.)

"And to my fellow Filipinos: let us speak truth to power. Uncover reality. It is only with truth that we strike our path amidst the smoke and mirrors. What is at stake is the future of the Philippines, not just the future of the Dutertes or the future of the president’s family," she added. —RF, GMA Integrated News