Church poll watchdog says no to constitutional change

The Church-based poll watchdog Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting (PPCRV) opposed some lawmakers’ plans to push for Charter change, saying they agree with the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) that it is not yet time for any changes in the Constitution.

"PPCRV joins the CBCP in saying that Charter change at this time would only deplete government resources that could be channeled into worthwhile social services," the PPCRV said in a statement yesterday.

The group said: "Charter change must be done in an arena where transparency, logic and civility can bring us closer to the truth. Doing constitutional changes now under a politically unstable climate would only distract our attention from our country’s real problems."

PPCRV said it based its official position on certain moral factors dependent on the object, intentions and circumstances.

"Since human law is basically imperfect, PPCRV finds no opposition to the act in itself of changing the Constitution to meet the current demands of the times. However, PPCRV also realizes that the (intentions) and circumstances are morally questionable," the poll watchdog said.

PPCRV added that under normal conditions "our politicians’ intentions must be given the benefit of the doubt... yet in our current politically charged environment where strategic positioning for the 2004 elections have already started, one might begin to question the truthfulness of these publicly professed intentions."

The poll watchdog noted that the circumstances under which Charter change may be done are also "dubious."

Meanwhile, Bayan Muna Rep. Crispin Beltran asked why President Arroyo seems to be noncommittal on moves to amend the Constitution.

"(The President’s) previous statements that she is not in favor of amending the Charter strike us as weak," Beltran said.

He added that Mrs. Arroyo, as the country’s Chief Executive, is "still in the process of convincing (herself) on the proper stance regarding the entire issue."

Beltran said that the President’s "fence-sitting" attitude only fuels speculations that there is an existing secret arrangement between the administration and the proponents of Charter change in the House of Representatives.

"Admit it or not, (Mrs. Arroyo’s) administration and leadership have been severely crippled and debilitated by the various corruption charges and scandals. Otherwise, she would lash out against either the pro-Charter change camp or those opposing it. Apparently, she wants to be on the safe side, away from the ballistic exchanges between the two opposing groups," he said, noting that it was not like the President to keep mum on crucial political issues.

Mrs. Arroyo has remained cool to the latest Charter change initiative, however, saying the country has more urgent problems that needed attention.

On Dec. 30, she stunned the nation by announcing that she was withdrawing from the 2004 polls so she could concentrate on revitalizing the nation’s economy during her remaining 18 months in office.

However, the Senate disagrees with the House on when and how to introduce constitutional amendments, putting the Charter change move in doubt.

Senate leaders said they will only pursue Charter change after the 2004 elections and only through a constitutional convention.

Beltran said that what seems certain is that the Arroyo administration stands to benefit from it one way or the other.