Charter Change

“This Charter Change telenovela is passé. The drama of Congress leaders trying to convince President Aquino to endorse Charter Change is a clear attempt at screening the latter from the dire repercussions of Charter Change.”

Thus said Gabriela Women’s Party Representative Luz Ilagan with Malacanang supposedly playing coy to proposals to amend the Constitution.  read more »

“The determination and political will to repair the economic and political structures lies not in amending the economic provisions of the Constitution but in creating pro-people economic policies that will support the economic and human resources development of the country. The development of a sovereign country does not depend on laws that cater to the needs of foreign interests, but in the government’s full support of its human resources and responsible use of the nation’s natural resources.”  read more »

“Pushing for Charter Change at a time when US submarines carrying nuclear weapons are docking on our shores and mining multinationals are rejoicing over an executive order that practically perpetuates the destructive Philippine mining act of 1995 indicates a US-instigated agenda of plunder.”

This is according to Gabriela Women’s Party Representative Luz Ilagan as leaders of both Houses of Congress begin talks on the possibility of initiating amendments to the Philippine Constitution.  read more »

“Charter change has been used time and again as an excuse to solve one social ill after another. The clamor has been raised consistently under all administrations after Cory Aquino under seemingly profound guises. What its pushers fail to admit is that these social ills they prescribe charter change for, emanate from social inequity and the dominant traditional politics, and not a weak constitution," explained Gabriela Rep. Emmi De Jesus.  read more »

At least 100 women from Gabriela Women’s Partylist gathered in a flash mob in Congress to dance the chacha. Dubbed as “Women Dance to Stop Chacha”, participants danced the chacha while chanting: “Pilipinas not for sale! Stop, stop Charter Change! Itigil na ang Charter Change!”

Gabriela Women’s Party-Marikina coordinator Jessica Buligan said this was but one way for women to express their opposition to moves in Congress to amend the economic provisions in the Constitution. Congress resumes session today.  read more »

As the peasants do their version of ‘Occupy Mendiola’ today, Gabriela Women’s Party Rep. Emmi De Jesus expressed alarm that rural women's lives will worsen if the move for Charter Change pushes through. “Ngayon pa lang ay matindi nang kagutuman at kahirapan ang nararanasan ng mga magbubukid, ano pang uri ng pagsasamantala ang daranasin nila kapag ibinuyangyang na sa mga dayuhang mamumuhunan ang pagmamay-ari sa mga lupa at industriya ng bansa?”    read more »

“Bagsak-presyo! Buy one take all! Ganito ang paraan ng pagbebenta sa Pilipinas kapag nagpatuloy ang pagtutulak ng Kongreso at nananahimik si Pangulong Aquino sa Charter Change. This is a grand sell-out of our country’s patrimony, leaving nothing behind to our future generations,” said GWP Rep. Emmi De Jesus as the House of Representatives Committee on Constitutional Amendments resumed hearings on House Concurrent Resolution 10.  read more »