Consumers Domain
A question for cha-cha backers
"Tyranny cuts off the singer's head,
but the voice from the bottom of the well
returns to the secret streams of the earth
and rises out of nowhere through the mouths of the people."
- by Pablo Neruda
I have one question for those who advocate or simply support the current move to change our constitution - Under the present administration, is a new constitution that embodies the best interest of the nation possible?
I encourage you to reflect deeply into this simple question. You may highlight the flaws of the current constitution. You may underscore the benefits of a federal form of government. You may articulate the advantages of the parliamentary system. But before you do, ask yourself that question.
For me, that is a pre-requisite question - an issue that we must resolve upon ourselves before we decide on the wisdom of overhauling of the 1987 Constitution.
We have a president with a questionable mandate who is wallowing deep in the people's discontent and distrust. While effectively utilizing the power and the resources of the state to conceal the truth behind its sponsored anomalies and to continue hanging on to the presidency, Gloria Arroyo is still struggling to raise the legitimacy of her administration.
The "Hello Garci" investigations in Congress may already be concluded, but the truth remains elusive. This again is courtesy of the same elbow tactics utilized by this administration through E.O. 464 that effectively blocked the heads of the different Executive departments including military officers from testifying.
Further, we know for a fact that the main promoters of Charter change are Joe de Venecia and Fidel Ramos. The mention of their names alone is for me a single ample reason to oppose this current move. Let us not forget that the main motivation in this attempt to tinker with the constitution is to ensure the survival of Arroyo and the political agenda of these trapos headed by Ramos and De Venecia.
Let us remember also the main role of De Venecia in hiding the truth behind the electoral fraud and other anomalies of Gloria Arroyo. It was he who spearheaded the efforts in the Lower House that shot down the impeachment proceedings that we Filipinos are hoping could shed light on the legitimacy of this government.
And yes let us not forget Ramos, who probably, in the history of this country, is one politician who made corruption a suave enterprise, earning millions upon millions of dollars of kickbacks courtesy of his emergency powers and the contracts with power producers during his term. Ramos also attempted to do the cha-cha before his term ended so could get to extend his tenure.
Now, I agree (for once!) with a proposal of De Venecia, that he migrate if the charter change will not materialize saying there is no more hope for the country.
He said that should his efforts to shift the form of government to a parliamentary system fail, then there was no more hope for the country. "Wala na (It's finished). We might as well migrate," he was quoted by a national daily.
I suggest however that he do so immediately regardless if there is a shift to the form of government or not. I suggest further that he bring along all the corrupt trapos in government including his boss in Malacañang and his mentor, Ramos. Verily, this will usher new hope for the country.
Gloria, De Venecia, Ramos and their cohorts are missing the point (albeit intentionally) and it is sad that the real issues are being clouded from the people. This cha-cha effort is like cocaine being forced upon us, so we may get high and loose our senses.
They keep on repeating this mantra that the defects of the 1987 Constitution are the cause of the serious problems afflicting our nation now. But clearly this is all a smokescreen to the fact that the main problem facing our nation now is not the form of government but those who run it and the elite trapo system they represent.
Now going back to my question above: Under the present administration, is a new constitution that embodies the best interest of the nation possible? My answer is definitely "NO". What's yours?
(Send your wishes, comments and reactions to: for text messages to 0919-348-6337; for e-mails to ianseruelo@yahoo.com; and for blogs to http://consumersdomain.blogspot.com.)