Bishop campaigns against Cha-Cha petition

Bishop Broderick Pabillo (File photo courtesy of CBCP)

MANILA, Philippines — The Vicar Apostolic of Taytay on Thursday called on Catholics and the public not to sign a circulating petition to amend the 1987 Constitution.

In a statement shared by the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines, Bishop Broderick Pabillo warned that the petition seeks to amend the constitution by presenting itself as a people’s initiative but is, in reality, driven by politicians.

“Baka gamitin ang madaliang pagpapatawag ng Barangay Assembly para dito. Sabihin sa mga tao na huwag pumirma!” said Pabillo.

(We may resort to a rushed barangay assembly and tell the people not to sign.)

“Hindi ito inisyatiba na galing sa mga tao kundi ng ilang mga politiko,” he added.

This is not an initiative from the people but from some politicians.”)

According to Pabillo, the petition aims to establish a constitutional assembly, wherein both houses of Congress would vote jointly, sidelining the senators entirely due to the disproportionate number — 315 representatives compared to only 24 senators.

Pabillo claimed there have also been cases where money is offered to those who will sign the petition.

The People’s Initiative for Reform Modernization and Action (Pirma) is also is collecting more than 8 million signatures, equivalent to 12 percent of the country’s registered voting population, to fortify its Cha-cha petition.