RP-wide protests set vs Cha-cha

The United Opposition (UNO) yesterday vowed to launch a nationwide campaign against Charter change starting next month, saying protests would not stop until the Arroyo administration truly abandons Cha-cha.

“We will press the fight against Cha-cha in Metro Manila and in the provinces. If the Arroyo administration wants to Cha-cha, we are ready to rumble,” UNO president and Makati Mayor Jejomar Binay said.

Binay also dismissed statements from Speaker Prospero Nograles and other Lakas leaders that a proposal to convene Congress into a constituent assembly (con-ass), as proposed by leaders of President Arroyo’s party, Kabalikat ng Malayang Pilipino, would not pass.

“Mrs. Arroyo, until now, has not said a word about the matter, but her silence only confirms our belief that she is orchestrating all these attempts to tinker with the Charter in order to extend her hold to power,” he said.

Binay said Kampi and Lakas have the same agenda and that is to extend Arroyo’s term.

“Speaker Nograles may say what he wants about Kampi’s con-ass resolution, but in the end both Lakas and Kampi have the same agenda, and that is to allow Mrs. Arroyo to hold on to power,” he said, adding that the House leadership is bent on pursuing Cha-cha in January.

“What we got from the House leadership is a confirmation that they will pursue Cha-cha in January. As far as the allies of Mrs. Arroyo are concerned the Cha-cha express is still on despite mounting opposition from all sectors of society,” Binay confirmed.

He said he does not believe the statement of Nograles that the lower House will set aside deliberations on Cha-cha and focus instead on the 2009 budget and the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Law (CARL).

“There is no reason for us to suspend or defer our plans. On the contrary, there is more reason for us to plan bigger and more broad-based protest activities in Metro Manila and the provinces,” Binay said.

He also dismissed Malacañang’s call for a dialogue since he expressed belief that the Arroyo administration is bent on tinkering with the Charter.

Binay said rally organizers have been encouraged by the large turnout of participants in last Friday’s anti Cha-cha rally in Makati.

The protest rally drew 15,000 participants based on reports from the various groups, 10,000 bigger than the 5,000 expected by organizers. – With Michael Punongbayan