Bayan Negros expressed its vehement opposition against the politician’s self-serving drive to change the 1987 constitution thru people’s initiative, a press release from the group said.
“We have received reports that the electorate were made to sign with bribery the TUPAD or AICS program, mobilizing the networks of local politicians and using money from the pockets of the government,” it said.
According to the press release from the group, the signature campaign in Bacolod City is allegedly bankrolled by Mayor Albee Benitez thru the barangay officials and purok leaders, requiring them to reach their quota in blind obedience to the League of Cities of the Philippines. Those who signed were duped by the offered benefits rather than informed consent. A majority of those who signed do not even know what is the subject matter of the signature campaign.
The petition signing aims to gather signatures of 3 percent of the electorate per district, and pushes for amendments to section 1 of Article XVII, any amendment shall be approved by “three fourths of vote of all members of Senate and House of Representatives in a joint session.” It also authorizes a certain Atty. Anthony Abad to represent them in the petition before the Comelec (Commission on Elections), it said.
Like in the past drives, the real intention of charter change is to open up the economy to foreign corporations offering our rich natural resources to them, as well as allowing entry of greedy corporations into power, water, education and now transport sectors. In addition there is the self-serving interest of extending the tenure and term of office, the press release said.
There are other pressing issues being faced by the masses such as the increasing prices of goods and services, the El Nino phenomenon, and unemployment of more or less 70 thousand (jeepney) drivers and operators that Congress and politicians must attend to, it said.
Bayan Negros is calling on its member-organizations and other people’s organizations to express protest in halls and streets against these dubious plans of Marcos administration, it added.*
