Members of Bayan protested on Saturday, Jan. 2018, against charter change through constituent assembly, saying that it was “railroaded” in Congress for the “self-serving interests” of the Duterte administration. (Photo by JULIUS LEONEN / INQUIRER.net)
The Duterte administration could not hide its “self-serving” interests behind the “railroaded” push for charter change (Cha-cha) in a constituent assembly (con-ass), according to militant group Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan).
The militant group on Saturday staged a demonstration along Taft Avenue in Manila on Saturday to protest the proposal for a shift to a federal form of government.
Protesters also conducted a noise barrage by blowing their whistles to blare their opposition against cha-cha and con-ass.
HAPPENING NOW: Militant group BAYAN stages protest along Taft Avenue, Manila vs ‘rail-roaded’ Con-ass, Cha-cha @inquirerdotnet pic.twitter.com/3iK1XbJOIB
— Julius Leonen (@JLeonenINQ) January 20, 2018
Mong Palatino, chairperson of Bayan Metro Manila, said the passage of House Concurrent Resolution No. 9, which seeks to amend the Constitution through con-ass, showed the government’s “self-serving political and economic interests.”
Palatino also decried the proposed cha-cha of PDP-Laban to extend the term of incumbent House lawmakers, saying that it might lead to a no-election scenario, income tax exemptions, and consolidation of executive, legislative, and judicial power to Duterte.
“Worse than being anti-poor and pro-foreign businesses, the HCR No. 9 serves as a rubberstamp of the Lower House to Duterte which granted his administration to exercise power,” Palatino said.
“Duterte wants to maintain the one man rule over our decade constitution with his supermajority cronies in Congress through a sham, anti-people constituent assembly,” he said. /atm