JDV calls for nationwide consultations on Cha-cha

Speaker Jose de Venecia Jr. called yesterday for nationwide barangay consultations on Cha-cha (Charter change) to be conducted by congressmen, governors and mayors.

He said these officials should complete the consultations within a month and forward their results to the House, which is largely pushing for Charter change, and the Senate, whose members have vowed that Cha-cha would be "dead on arrival" in their chamber.

He said about 100 civil society leaders and volunteers from the Coalition of Citizens for Charter Change Now! have agreed to join local officials in explaining proposed constitutional amendments to the people in the planned barangay assemblies.

"These meetings are necessary in order to inform our people about the urgency of the reforms we seek," he said.

Like Bukidnon Rep. Juan Miguel Zubiri, who is heading a Mindanao federalist movement, De Venecia expressed elation over the results of a recent survey showing that 70 percent of Filipinos are against Cha-cha and only 30 percent favor changing the Constitution.

The Speaker said the 30 percent "is already a strong head start since we have not actually undertaken any information campaign on Charter reform."

Actually, the conduct of barangay assemblies is the idea of Lito Atienza, who is on his last term as mayor of Manila and who is supporting Cha-cha.

The proposal has been criticized by Rep. Satur Ocampo of the militant party-list group Bayan Muna, who said the envisioned consultations are reminiscent of the martial law barangay assemblies that faked the approval of the 1973 Constitution.

Ocampo said with those tasked to stage the assemblies supporting Cha-cha so they can perpetuate themselves in office, the people can almost anticipate the results of these meetings.

The Bayan Muna leader is heading a group of 38 House members who are campaigning against Cha-cha.

De Venecia also announced that almost all governors and mayors are for revising the Constitution so there would be a shift to a parliamentary-federal type of government.

He said these officials are urging the Senate and the House to "set aside personal interest and devote their attention to the most urgent task of constitutional reform."

Malacañang earlier indicated that it would seek the help of governors and mayors, most of whom wildly applauded the President in her State of the Nation Address last July 25 at the Batasan complex, to lobby for Cha-cha with the Senate.

Palace officials said senators would be flooded with so many petitions that they cannot ignore and that could convince them to relent in their opposition to Cha-cha via the constituent assembly mode.

The House is expected to begin floor debates this week on a joint resolution seeking the convening of the two chambers of Congress into a constituent assembly to propose Charter changes.

Ocampo said his colleagues have said the House would just be wasting previous taxpayer’s money by insisting on Cha-cha despite the opposition of the Senate.