New moves for charter change won't succeed—Pichay
Former Surigao Del Sur Representative Prospero Pichay believe new attempts by the Arroyo administration to amend the 1987 Constitution will not succeed.
He said it has been tried since the time of former Pres. Fidel Ramos yet it did not prosper because it was unpopular among the people.
"You can't force something which is very unpopular. Such move is bound to fail," said Pichay.
Pichay, who ran for senator but lost in the 2007 election, said there are more serious matters for the government to address.
He added, changing the constitution would not solve the problem on corruption and poverty in our country.
"No matter what system of government we have if we have the same politicians in power our people and country will continue to suffer," Pichay said.
Pichay noted that current moves to amend the constitution may be linked to the Memorandum of Agreement on Ancestral Domain (MOA-AD) with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) being pushed by the government.
The MOA-AD would give MILF political and economic authority over territories under the expanded Autonomous Region for Muslim Mindanao (ARMM).
Pichay said the MOA-AD is unconstitutional that is why the administration is pushing for charter change to legitimize their actions.
Pichay said pushing for the MOA-AD could escalate war in Mindanao.
He noted that of the 13 provinces eyed for the ARMM in the Tripoli Agreement only five provinces opted to be put under the ARMM.
"It is the will of the people. Even the Supreme Court cannot subvert the will of the people," said Pichay.
Pichay assailed President Arroyo's advisers pushing for the MOA-AD saying they should resign since they do not know what they are doing.
"The president is ill-advised," Pichay said.
Pichay was in Iloilo City recently to grace the opening ceremony of the Iloilo Schools Sports Association Inc. (ISSA) held at John B. Lacson Foundation Maritime University.
Pichay is the president of the Basketball Association of the Philippines.