Press Release
December 10, 2008

ROXAS: CHA-CHA "WORST CHRISTMAS GIFT TO THE FILIPINO PEOPLE"

Liberal President Senator Mar Roxas today branded as the "worst Christmas gift ever" the Arroyo administration's plan to ram through Charter change without the participation and consent of the Senate.

"Desperado na ba nang sobra ang Malacañang na huwag maalis sa pwesto si Pangulong Arroyo at pipilitin nila ang Cha-Cha kahit ayaw ito ng taumbayan? Ang Cha-Cha ay ang pinakamasamang regalo na mabibigay ng Malacañang sa ating kababayan ngayong Pasko. Imbes na pakainin sila o tulungan sa iba't ibang paraan, ang inaatupag na lang ng mga pulitiko ang kanilang interes (Has Malacañang become so desperate to prevent the removal from power of President Arroyo that they will force Charter change even if the people don't want it? Cha-Cha is the worst gift Malacañang can give the people this Christmas. Instead of feeding the people or helping them in other ways, politicians are only focusing on their interests)," he said.

"Binabalewala na ng Malacañang at ng mga kakampi nito ang batas at proseso (Malacañang and its allies have set aside the law and due process)," he added.

Kampi President Camarines Sur Rep. Luis Villafuerte reportedly said that the House will convene as a constituent assembly without regard for if senators join them or not. Most incumbent senators have maintained that the House and Senate must vote separately if amendments are to be made to the Constitution.

Liberal Party stalwarts have filed bills both at the House and Senate seeking instead the creation of a constitutional convention in 2010 at the same time as the next national elections. Roxas' bill on this, Senate Bill No. 2923, was filed last week. A 2010 "con-con" is seen to minimize partisan politics, as it will not benefit any incumbent officials.

"Gulo lang ang aabutin kapag itinuloy itong pag-railroad sa Cha-Cha. (Chaos will erupt if Malacañang does not stop the railroading of this Cha-Cha)," he said, citing a recent Social Weather Stations survey that showed 64% of Filipinos against Charter change.

"Ang gusto ng ating kababayan ay pagbabago ng liderato, kung hindi pwede sa ngayon ay sa 2010 na. Hindi papayag ang mga mamamayan na tumagal pa itong termino ni Pangulong Arroyo na puno ng katiwalian at human rights violations (Our people want a change in leadership, if not now, then in 2010. Our people will not allow President Arroyo's term, full of corruption and human rights violations, to go on longer)" he added.

News Latest News Feed