Prayer rally vs signature drive for Charter change set in Davao City

A prayer rally against the signature drive for Charter change has been set in Davao City on Sunday, January 28, 2024. Davao City map image / INQUIRER FILES

MANILA, Philippines — A prayer rally against a supposed people’s initiative (PI) gathering signatures to amend the 1987 Constitution has been set for Sunday in Davao City.

The city’s 3rd District Councilor Conrado Baluran said in a statement that the prayer rally is being organized to protest the tactics allegedly being employed by movers of the PI to obtain signatures in support of Charter change.

The PI is being hounded by issues such as bribery to convince people to sign the petition for Cha-cha.

READ: No bribery in Charter change signature drive – Marcos

Monetary aid through the Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situation (AICS) program of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) was supposedly being used to secure the signatures.

But Baluran stressed that “Dabawenyos are not for sale.”

“Together with the calling for every Filipino people to participate in this greater cause for a nationwide campaign, Davao City will remain resilient and will not just stand aside as an observer but shall take part continuously striving to unite for one nation, one strong opposition,” he said Thursday.

READ: Garcia: Keep village execs off the signature drive

“We have to act on one goal, dapat respetuhon pud ta nila (we should also be respected by them) just because of their intention to remain in power,” he added.

According to Baluran, around 50,000 people from various regions are expected to participate in the rally on Sunday.