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Cha-cha waste of public funds — Casiño

Instrument for LAKAS-NUCD to consolidate political power

BAGUIO CITY (Oct. 26) – The Charter Change (chacha) being peddled by Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo (GMA) and her allies is a waste of time and public funds as it will surely meet strong opposition, primarily by anti-chacha senators, claimed Bayan Muna (BM) Representative Teddy Casiño in a forum here about political developments.

Casiño pointed out that chacha is being pursued because of mere vested political interest rather than seeking substantial change for the present crisis confronting the Filipino people.

He added that the reason for chacha is to remove nationalist provisions of the constitution, including the prohibition of 100 % owned foreign corporations’ exploitation of our natural resources; mandate for a nuclear-free Philippines; the bill of rights, among others.

“Pushed by Speaker Jose De Venecia, chacha will only pave the way for the monopoly of political power of the ruling party – the LAKAS-NUCD (Lakas ng Nagkakaisang Pilipino-National Union of Christian Democrats),” added Casiño. De Venecia and the LAKAS-NUCD propose the constituent assembly as the mode of charter change. Congress will be transformed into the body that will introduce changes in the present constitution, thereupon obtaining the required vote mandated by the constitution.

“With a parliamentary system and consolidated political power by the ruling party, it is possible that the prime minister will either be De Venecia, ex-president Fidel V. Ramos, business tycoon Danding Cojuangco or GMA herself,” said the former secretary general of BAYAN (Bagong Alyansang Makabayan or New Patriotic Alliance).

Casiño sits as a member of the House of Representatives via the party list system allowed by the Constitution where a maximum of three representatives per party list compose at least 20% of the total lower house membership. The other BM representatives are Satur Ocampo and Joel Virador.

Federal system

Casiño claimed that the federal system seems to be attractive in underdeveloped areas in the country, as they think that this system would bring about equal development. Proponents of this system say that with chacha, there should be 14 federal states within the Philippine republic.

However, this is another superficial layer of bureaucracy added to the existing one, Casiño explained. He pointed out the following levels of the existing bureaucracy as: the barangays, the city or municipality, the provinces, the regional development councils, and the national government. The additional federal level is tantamount to additional funding. Critics believe more appropriations will be allotted just for administrative purposes of these different bureaucratic levels, and less for social services.

Concom

It will be recalled that the debate over chacha compelled GMA to create a constitutional commission (Concom) supposedly to consult the people. She handpicked Jose Abueva as Concom head and other members who were perceived to be her personal choices. The move was questioned by critics and opposition lawmakers as unnecessary public spending and whose output is regarded as biased in favor of GMA’s interest as she had a direct hand in choosing the Concom members.

The Integrated Bar of the Philippines in Cebu boycotted the Concom public hearing as the taxpayers’ money was used to finance the activity in an expensive hotel, reported the Philippine Daily Inquirer.

Casiño claimed that the anti-Arroyo bloc is open to chacha, but only after GMA has been removed from her position.

“The representatives to the body that will change the present constitution will have to come from the different sectors of the society,” he said. # Arthur L. Allad-iw for NORDIS

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