Reject dialogue on Cha-cha, religious leaders told

Party-list Rep. Liza Maza of Gabriela, said once and for all, Malacañang must heed the Filipino people’s call in rejecting constituent assembly and all other schemes to extend Arroyo’s term beyond 2010.

“She cannot simply ignore and belittle the people’s clamor,” Maza said.

“Habang garapalang pinipilit ng administrasyong Arroyo at ng kanyang mga kaalyado sa Kongreso ang pakanang con-ass, lalo nitong sinisindihan ang galit ng mamamayan. The Filipino people will never dance to Gloria’s Cha-cha. There is not a grain of trust left for this current administration that has spawned countless scandals, reports of corruption and anomalies, and has dragged the people to unparalleled poverty and suffering for the past eight years,” said Maza.

She urged more women to join the multisectoral rally against con-ass on Wednesday in Makati City, saying that this is open to all individuals and organizations that want to express their love for their country and who are ready to defend from any vicious plot such as Arroyo’s con-ass.

The Makati rally, Maza said, is just an opening salvo for a series of nationwide protests as Arroyo’s last State of the Nation Address nears.

Also, Maza scored the military leadership for deliberately threatening the soldiers who would want to join the said rally by discharging them from the service.

She said the military cannot stop anybody from joining the protest actions.

“Their lame threats only demonstrate that there are indeed mounting calls for change even within the [military] ranks,” Maza said.