THE CAMPAIGN Against the Return of the Marcoses and Martial Law (CARMMA) is one with the patriotic, nationalist and pro-people Filipinos in opposing the Marcos-instigated charter change.
We strongly believe that all these efforts of Congress to railroad charter change – first, by the hasty collection of signatures through the so-called People’s Initiative, and second, through the passage of Resolution of Both Houses No. 6 – are upon the marching orders of the president, Ferdinand Marcos Jr.
These recent moves to amend the 1987 Constitution reminds us of how Marcos Jr.’s dictator father, hijacked the 1971 Constitutional Convention. The present generation should learn from history: how delegates to the 1971 ConCon were bribed to favor constitutional amendments including the lifting of term limits of the president. Let us remember the Quintero exposé, making the ConCon an obvious ploy to keep the Marcoses in power. After failing to do so and being hell-bent to stay in power beyond constitutional term limits, Marcos Sr. declared martial law, and railroaded the passage of the 1974 Constitution which provided a veneer of legitimacy to the dictatorship.
We maintain that opening the country’s economy to 100% foreign ownership is an attack on our sovereignty and patrimony. It does not guarantee development for the majority. Marcos Jr., his allies, including those who launched the cheap “Edsa-pwera” campaign, are lying to their teeth when they proclaim that constitutional amendments are aimed only at amending the economic provisions of the 1987 constitution.
We oppose Marcos’ Charter Change because this will open wide the gates for amendments not only to the economic provisions, but also to the political provisions of the Philippine constitution. Amendments to the constitutional provisions on the party-list system, as well as the prohibition of foreign military bases on Philippine soil, are not far-fetched.
The Marcoses have done everything in the past to perpetuate themselves into power. They are now trying to do it again.
As we commemorate the 38th year of the People Power uprising, we choose to learn from history and reject Charter Change. We believe that genuine development should come from the people’s interests and demands. Land, jobs, livelihood, among other basic and fundamental rights, are our demands, not foreign domination and takeover of the national economy. A pro-people economy and a governance system that is truly of and for the people are what’s needed by the Philippines, amidst our perennial grave crisis.
Genuine change comes from the people who uphold justice, human rights, accountability, pro-people economy, sovereignty and patrimony. Charter Change is not genuine change. No to Charter Change! – CARMMA (Campaign Against the Return of the Marcoses and Martial Law)
