Bayan Muna Rep. Carlos Zarate INQUIRER.net file photo
A progressive lawmaker on Saturday called on the media to keep informing the public about the ins and outs of federalism that will eventually “develop a critical mass” and uncover the vested interests of some people pushing for Charter change (Cha-cha).
Bayan Muna Rep. Carlos Zarate said it is important for the people become more critical especially that self-interests of some politicians have become more known as they push for Cha-cha through constituent assembly (Con-ass).
“We really have to create a critical mass, especially now. Talagang totoo naman may trust problem sa mga nagpapanukala ng Con-ass,” Zarate said during the Saturday Forum at Annabel’s Restaurant in Quezon City.
(It is true that there is really a trust problem toward people who push for Con-ass.)
“Ang mahalaga, yung sinasabi ni [former Sen. Aquilino “Nene” Pimentel Jr.], na makialam ang mamamayan, ilabas ng mamamayan ang kanilang boses. ‘Yung critical mass, hindi yung basta na lang like nang like sa Facebook, na hindi sinusuri ang nilalike niya, ang shineshare niya,” he added.
(What is important is what Sen. Nene is saying, that people should get involved, they should speak out, and not just like these things on Facebook that even without scrutinizing what he likes or shares they just hit like and share.)
“’Yun ang dapat nating bitawan. Kahit na sa usapin na sa media, malaki ang papel ng media para maka create tayo ng critical mass,” he noted.
(That’s what we should implement. Even in the dialogues in the media, the media plays a big role in creating critical mass.)
Zarate said that a critical public would spell the difference between the current efforts to amend the Constitution and the previous ones.
“[A critical mass] would spell the difference. The previous attempts also to tinker with our Constitution, noong lumabas ang tunay na dahilan kung bakit nila papalitan, hindi lang pala ieextend ang kanilang term, ang naging decisive noon ay hindi naman ang mga pulitiko e. Ang naging decisive noon ang mamamayan,” Zarate explained.
(When there were previous attempts to tinker with our Constitution, when the real reasons why they want to change the Charter were exposed, they would not only extend their terms, the decisive factor was not the politicians but the people.)
While noting that there is no perfect government in the world, Pimentel said that democracy would die if people would just be silent and let politicians govern the nation.
“Kailangan ‘wag pabayaan ng gobyerno na sila lang ang mamahala ng ating pamahalaan, kasama ang taong-bayan dyan,” the veteran lawmaker said.
(We should not allow the government to leave every governing to them, the people should get involved.)
“Pag hindi tayo kasali, pag tahimik lang tayo, natatakot tayo, then that will be the end of the democratic process. And I don’t think we should allow that to happen,” he added.
(If we are not included in the process, if we just keep silent, if we let ourselves be afraid, that will be the end of the democratic process.) /jpv
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