'Broadest' coalition vs Cha-cha formed ahead of 1986 EDSA People Power anniv

Opposition figures gathered on Thursday to express their strong objection to Charter change (Cha-cha) and called on the public to unite against it.

One of the opposition figures, lawyer Aaron Pedrosa of Sanlakas, said their coalition, dubbed No to Cha-cha Network, is "the broadest coalition we have now" against Charter change.

"We see here the coming together of different sectors, and this is the broadest coalition we have now. This is not just in NCR (National Capital Region)," Pedrosa said at a press conference in Makati City.

The gathering and call for solidarity against Cha-cha took place ahead of the 38th anniversary of the EDSA People Power Revolution which the groups said will be marked with anti-Charter change protests.

"Among the fruits of that struggle was the 1987 Constitution [which] set term limits for elected officials, mandated a bicameral legislature for better checks and balances, as well as ensured that the economy, land, natural resources and key educational and cultural institutions would remain in the hands of Filipinos," Sr. Mary John Mananzan of Movement Against Tyranny said, referring to the 1986 EDSA People Power Revolution that ended the rule of then-President Ferdinand Marcos Sr.

"Today, there are efforts to amend these and other provisions via people's initiative or Congress forming itself as a constituent assembly. We strongly oppose these efforts for being unnecessary, divisive, expensive, and aimed mainly at entrenching those in power," Mananzan said.

Aside from Pedrosa and Mananzan, other opposition figures present during the event included retired Supreme Court Associate Justice Antonio Carpio of 1-Sambayan, former Department of Social Welfare and Development secretary Judy Taguiwalo of CARMMA, and former lawmaker Neri Colmenares of Bayan Muna.

President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr., son and namesake of the former president, as well as the House of Representatives, are pushing for amending the economic provisions of the Constitution, particularly restrictions on foreign ownership of public utilities, as well as in the education and advertising sector. 

There is a similar pending measure currently being tackled in the Senate.

A signature campaign for people's initiative for Cha-cha was also put in motion, although it has since been stopped by the Commission on Elections (Comelec) over lack of an executory law.

During Thursday's press conference, Carpio reiterated that constitutional restrictions on foreign ownership of industries were never the reason why the country has dismal foreign direct investment (FDIs) numbers.

"We are more liberal than Vietnam and China but Vietnam and China have more FDIs than us because the problem is not the Constitution. It is because of the very high cost of power, complicated bureaucratic procedure for investors and [lack of] rule of law such as cancelling the franchise of Manila Water and Maynilad," he said, echoing what he said during a recent Senate hearing.

"That sent a very strong signal to foreign investors that you don’t follow the rule of law. We can address those issues without changing the Constitution," he added.

Kilusang Mayo Uno Secretary General Jerome Adonis backed Carpio, noting that foreign capital does not guarantee job security and higher wages.

"If there are FDIs, we think there will be even lower salaries, more contractualization and our freedom of association will be at risk. These are the prevailing problems now and we have been asking the government for reforms to address these but no avail," he said.

The House has already called on senators to act on the proposed economic amendments to the 1987 Constitution sooner rather than later, saying that foreign capital is needed to boost the country's industries, as well as increase job opportunities and wage hike. —KBK/RSJ, GMA Integrated News