CBCP planning nationwide protest vs constituent assembly

[Zeus]

CBCP planning nationwide protests vs constituent assembly

Militants gearing up for rallies, too
By Thea Alberto, Christian V. Esguerra
INQ7.net, Inquirer
Last updated 03:23pm (Mla time) 12/07/2006


(UPDATE) The country's influential Roman Catholic bishops are putting up a united front against the administration-controlled House of Representatives' effort to amend the 1987Constitution by convening itself as constituent assembly.
The Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) announced Thursday that it was organizing a massive prayer rally against the Con-ass around the country on December 15.
Militant organizations also announced nationwide protests against administration-backed efforts to convene a constituent assembly, with Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (New Patriotic Alliance or Bayan) secretary general Renato Reyes saying: “"Next week, we will show them our numbers -- in the streets.”
After a night of debates, the House through voice voting approved Resolution 1450, calling on Congress to convene and propose amendments to or revision of the Constitution upon a three-fourths vote of all its members.
Monsignor Pedro Quitorio, CBCP spokesperson, said the December 15 rally was the bishops' reaction to the developments at the lower house.
"We are alarmed with what's happening at the lower house," he told the Inquirer. "There are no more morals, no more rules. The rule is what suits administration congressmen."
Quitorio said the CBCP was particularly dismayed that supporters of President Macapagal-Arroyo seemed more preoccupied with their political interest in Manila while thousands of Filipinos were dying and starving in Bicol in the aftermath of Typhoon Reming.
"This should be the time to help others, but they are just helping themselves," he lamented. "There is so much suffering in Bicol, yet all they do is to take care of their personal interests."
Quitorio said the CBCP was planning simultaneous prayer rallies in all dioceses around the country. There are 86 dioceses, including the military ordinariate, the church unit for soldiers and policemen headed by Bishop Leopoldo Tumulak.
The CBCP spokesman said the effort had the blessing of Gaudencio Cardinal Rosales, archbishop of the powerful Metropolitan See of Manila. The low-key, soft-spoken cardinal is known to shy away from politics, preferring instead to focus quietly on poverty alleviation and values formation programs in his archdiocese.
On December 15, Rosales was expected to join other Metro Manila bishops at the Luneta for the big, anti-Charter change prayer rally, according to Quitorio.
The other Metro Manila prelates are Bishops Deogracias Iñiguez of Caloocan, Antonio Tobias of Novaliches, Honesto Ongtioco of Cubao, Jesse Mercado of Parañaque, and Francisco San Diego of Pasig.
Quitorio said the plan was to fill Luneta, which, in previous rallies, had accommodated around one million people. Colleges students from Catholic schools would be invited to the event, he said.
Archbishop Angel Lagdameo, CBCP president, was expected to lead a simultaneous prayer rally in his diocese in Jaro, Iloilo, Quitorio said.
Quitorio said it was unwise for the Arroyo administration and its allies in the lower house to push for Con-ass with apparent haste and questionable motives.
"They're just instigating the people," he said.
Lagdameo on Wednesday issued a strongly worded statement, describing the effort as "fraudulently illegal and scandalously immoral."
Reyes said protest rallies against Charter change will rock the Batasang Pambansa complex in Quezon City where the House holds office and at the ASEAN Summit in Cebu City beginning Monday.
"We call on the people to stand up and oppose the patently illegal moves to perpetuate Arroyo and her allies in power. We look forward to working with the broad anti-Chacha [Charter change] opposition to drive the last nails on the coffin of this administration initiative,” said Reyes.
“We guarantee that the Batasang Pambansa will be swamped with anti-Cha-cha protests once the Majority attempts to convene itself into an illegal con-ass [constituent assembly],” he said.
He added that a “special welcome” was being readied for Speaker Jose de Venecia when he attends the ASEAN Summit.
“The whole world will see how the sham democracy operates in this country. The Arroyo-De Venecia Express will surely bring shame to the Philippines,” Reyes warned.
Reyes also urged the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) to call for local or parish meetings to muster people support against Charter change.
“All groups and individuals will now have to make a stand, whether they are for or against the con-ass. The administration has polarized the country yet again. And this time, the results will not be in favor of the Arroyo regime,” Reyes said.
“We will once and for all stop in its tracks the illegal runaway cha-cha train,” said Reyes.

[1D4LV]

i really dunno other's opinion on this. although i am anti-chacha, i still think that the separation between church and state should still be observed. dapat hindi nakikielam ang simbahan sa matters ng state, so that, they should not influence most of the filipinos in affecting state matters.

[XUV-AT2002]

in my views hindi naman ito pakiki alam sa estado o gobyerno kundi laban against evil and immorality.

[April_Ryan]

Kung hindi man sa CBCP, we should join some other indignation rally.

it's not about CHACHA, it's about how congress and the house of gloria is going about it. shameful behavior. and the best reason why our country is not ready for a parliamentary form of government yet. can't trust the politicians to do the right thing.

[shadow]

I don't know kung meron pa rin mag defend kay GMA and her allies dito sa board, kung meron man siguro relatives nila si GMA, sobrang kapal na!!!!

[OTEP]

Palakasan na lang pala ng boses ngayon. Ok talaga tong mga kapit tuko sa congress.

I'm not a fan of the opposition, but at the rate we are going mukhang ginagago na lang tayo ng administration.

[oldblue]

pinoys have been craving for change in a system. eto na pinakadrastic na walang mamamatay, why not give the benefit of the doubt

[shadow]

pinoys have been craving for change in a system. eto na pinakadrastic na walang mamamatay, why not give the benefit of the doubt

bro, it's not about the system, whatever system it is, if the same people are running it, wala pa rin mangyayari,

kung nagawa ng admin congressmen ang railroading ng changing ng rules with our systen now, ano pang mas kaya nilang gawin kung parliamentary system na tayo, and beside yun ginagawa nila ngayon is the exact thing kung bakit hinde tayo pwede maging parliamentary...

[tsupermario]

it's not about CHACHA, it's about how congress and the house of gloria is going about it. shameful behavior. and the best reason why our country is not ready for a parliamentary form of government yet. can't trust the politicians to do the right thing.

congressmen are just out to prolong their stay in office

[oldblue]

like i said hindi pa nagsisimula. anyway, we can always pull the plug kahit sa kalagitnaan o malapit na matapos ang assembly. andyan naman people power eh

it's an assembly. pag-aaralan pa lang po muna.