Statement of Pagbabago! People’s Movement for Change
Pagbabago! People’s Movement for Change, a movement of reform-minded individuals and groups advocating for meaningful change, is unequivocally opposed to the charter change (Cha-cha) being pushed by Pres. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo. The dirty hands of Malacañang are all over HR 1109: it is undoubtedly an evil scheme to prolong further the illegitimate rule of Arroyo and her cohorts.
We denounce the self-serving representatives who have dishonorably allowed themselves to be used by Arroyo instead of serving the people. The treacherous and unpatriotic manner by which they ratified the move for a constituent assembly is deplorable, more so at the expense of taxpayers’ money and dignity. The use of pork barrel to facilitate the railroading of HR 1109 betrays all claims by Malacañang that the move for a con-ass is an “independent initiative” of a co-equal branch of government.
Allowing Arroyo and her cohorts to get away with Cha-cha is consent for the perpetuation of a regime guilty of graft and corruption, political repression, and further impoverishment of millions of Filipinos through its ant-people policies. The people will no longer allow any scheme that will further prolong this despised regime, whose unpopularity and disapproval among the Filipino rivals if not exceeds that of the Marcos dictatorship.
There is no doubt that the most urgent change that we need is a change in regime. The Arroyo administration has been in power too long, and has continued to enrich itself through wanton plunder of public coffers while impoverishing millions of Filipinos. We call on all fellow Filipinos who still believe in a decent, accountable and democratic government to join us in rejecting Cha-cha and all efforts to perpetuate the Arroyo regime. Filipinos would not be passive to the maneuvering of Pres. Arroyo and her clique and will persist in fighting for genuine social change.
Pagbabago! joins many tens of thousands who will take to the streets today to call “Stop Arroyo’s con-ass! Oppose Cha-cha! End Arroyo’s regime!”
