Group vs. Cha-Cha launched

CEBU, Philippines — The Cebu Movement against Tyranny and Charter Change formally launched in Cebu recently via a forum with former chief justice Hilario Davide Jr.

The movement presents itself as an alliance of various church, academe, legal sector, and other civil society organizations against tyranny, foreign domination, and social inequality.

During the launching, Davide shared the need to stand against Charter Change as it poses a threat to jeopardize our sovereignty, patrimony, and economic and cultural independence. Charter Change also seeks to railroad the ultimate agenda of perpetuation in power.

“We should be watchful of the tyranny in our government. Should we continue to move, we should collectively move to fight these kinds of evil. Panahon na karon para pugngan ang tyraniya nga nagpadayon sa atong nasud. Any kind of Charter Change is a lethal decision, a cruel punishment to the God-loving and democracy-thriving Filipinos. The Cha-Cha is a dance to death,” Davide said in his speech.

The movement in a statement said that the approval of the Resolution of Both Houses No. 7 at the Congress level should sound the alarm for the Filipino people as the proposed amendments can significantly affect the living conditions of all sectors in our society.

In his message of solidarity, convener and retired judge Meinrado Paredes said that this Charter Change could have a specific adverse impact on farmers, workers, urban poor, women, indigenous people, youth, and other marginalized groups, and could further worsen poverty and inequality in the country.

“We pursue a just and humane Philippine society. We believe it to be achievable. And we have a testament to this --the 1987 Philippine Constitution. Time and again, some people who hold power in our land would like to change and amend it... Fellow kindred spirits, we consider it our duty to speak truth to power --to raise our voices to these people in power who might be imprisoned in their good conscience. Hence, we seek to educate and not to tolerate, to speak and not to stay silent,” convener and Cebu Archbishop Jose Palma said in his statement.

The other members of alliance include UCCP West Visayas Jurisdictional Area Bishop Fely Tenchavez, Iglesia Filipina Independiente Cebu Bishop Alger Loyao Sr,, Cebu Archdiocesan on Social Advocates Fr. Ace Vocales, Bayan Muna Central Visayas coordinator John Ruiz III, ACT Region VII union coordinator April Dyan Gumanao, National Union of People’s Lawyers Cebu Secretary-General Mel Domini Ebo, National Union of Students of the Philippines coordinator Cleisteil Cimafranca, Order of Friars Minor Fr. Allan Arcebuche, Free Legal Assistance Group convenor retired judge Meinrado Paredes, UCCP convenor Rev. Raymond Gelloagan, SVD Southern Philippines convenor Fr. Rogelio Bag-ao, Sanlakas convenor Teody Navea, USC Department of Sociology and Anthropology professor Dr. Leni Ocasiones, BAYAN Central Visayas chairman Jaime Paglinawan, Karapatan Central Visayas spokesman Dennis Abarientos, the UP Academic Employees Union, UP Cebu Chapter President Dr. Regletto Imbong, and PISTON Cebu chairman Greg Perez.