Corruption is PH’s main issue and Cha-cha won’t solve it – Bayan

MANILA, Philippines — Issues that the Philippines has faced post-1986 Edsa Revolution have less to do with the Constitution and more to do with corruption, Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan) said.

Hence, according to Bayan, Charter change is not the answer because it will not solve corruption – even benefit regular Filipinos.

“Changing the [1987] Constitution has less to do with solving these problems and more to do with entrenching the ruling class interests that have long kept the Philippines poor and underdeveloped,” Bayan said in a statement Thursday.

The group alleged that several proponents of Cha-cha have already benefited from the very economic policies under the 1987 Constitution which they seek to further expand.

“Opening up the economy to 100 percent foreign ownership does not benefit the poor. It benefits big business and the bureaucrat capitalists engaged in the plunder of our resources,” Bayan asserted.

READ: House renews push for economic charter change

Bayan maintained that it would not support Cha-cha and insisted that “land reform, national industrialization, genuine sovereignty, respect for basic human rights and real democracy” should instead be the focus of the government.

Bayan’s statement comes amid an ongoing signature campaign by pro-Cha-cha group People’s Initiative for Reform Modernization and Action (Pirma) to amend the 1987 Constitution through a people’s initiative.

READ: Pirma is back: Charter change drive on air, on ground

Pirma’s National Convenor Noel Oñate said in a radio interview on Thursday that apart from revising the economic provisions in the 1987 Constitution, his group wants a unicameral legislature to avoid political deadlocks.

A unicameral legislature means that only one House or assembly will create and pass laws, Oñate explained. This way, he noted, “waste of time” may be prevented.

READ: Senate must take a stand on Cha-cha, says Imee Marcos