THE PROMOTION of Church Peoples' Response (PCPR) stated today
that political will to implement pro-people laws, policies and programs
is the real key to national progress rather than the current push
of Malacañang to shift to a parliamentary-federal form of
government supposedly to "bring about a more efficient and
faster implementation of laws and execution of programs.'"
Rev. Fr. Allan Jose Arcebuche, OFM, National Co-Chairperson of
PCPR pointed out that: "Already existing laws and pro-people
provisions in the Philippine Constitution that supposedly guarantee
the Filipinos' right to just wages, job security, land and livelihood,
are not implemented at all because those in power are more interested
to secure and expand their landholdings and business interests.
Whether the form is presidential or parliamentary, so long as the
country's leaders do not have the political will and sincerity to
put the people's interests first, such as end to unjust price hikes,
substantial wage hike, genuine land reform and other much-needed
economic reforms, GMA's so-called 10-point agenda or whatever recycled
package of false promises will result in nothing.
"The main beneficiaries of Charter Change are Mrs. Gloria
Macapagal-Arroyo and her allies who conspire to extend their hold
on power beyond the constitutional limits. Extending GMA's rule
means continuing oil price, power rate and water rate hikes, additional
tax burdens, a wage freeze, systematic stealing of public funds
and all-around corruption," the activist priest stated.
"Sincerity to put the people's interests above the interests
of the elite few will move our nation forward under decades of corrupt-
ridden government. We highly doubt that the proposed Charter Change
and shift to parliamentary form will solve the nation's problems
considering the character of dominant political forces in the country.
In fact, the last May 10 elections further exposed the bankruptcy
of a political system that is dominated by the political elite who
seek public offices for personal gain rather than rendering service
to the people," he noted.
"Over the years, the results of presidential elections have
always been for the advantage of the ruling elite. The argument
that 'In a parliamentary setup, a prime minister can be changed
whenever he or she loses the confidence of the members' does not
guarantee that a truly pro-people leader will be elected since the
members of parliament belong to the traditional political parties
who have long betrayed the cause of people power uprisings for justice
and meaningful change," PCPR concluded.
