By Junex Doronio

MANILA — The controversial issue of Charter change (Cha-Cha) via people’s initiative (PI) has served as a shot in the arm of various leftist groups as they vowed on Friday (02 Feb 2024) to hold a massive protest rally marking the 38th anniversary of the EDSA People Power Revolution on February 25.

House Assistant Minority Leader and Gabriela party-list Representative Arlene Brosas disclosed the planned protest action after the Senate announced that it will start deliberations on Resolution of Both Houses 6, which seeks to amend the economic provisions of the 1987 Constitution starting Monday 05 Feb 2024) next week.

“The only ones who will get to benefit from Cha-cha are foreigners and businessmen. That is why there is a mobilization of groups for a No to Cha-cha rally on February 25,” Brosas said in a press briefing.

She added that the anti-Cha-Cha “will call for the junking of people’s initiative and even RBH 6.”

Brosas further bared that a series of anti-Charter change rallies will also take place before February 25.

For her part, House Deputy Minority Leader and ACT Teachers party-list Representative France Castro said the signature campaign for PI is an attempt to reduce checks and balances in the government since it asks the public if he or she is in favor of amending the Constitution by a joint vote of both House and Senate members, rendering the 24-strong Senate vote irrelevant as against over 300 House members.

“This is going against the principle of check and balance, and such, should be junked,” Castro stressed.

National Day of Prayer

Meanwhile, a group identified as #BuhayAngEdsa Campaign Network said in a statement that their month-long series of activities will include a National Day of Prayer and Action aimed at celebrating the legacy of the 1986 EDSA People Power Revolution and voicing strong opposition to various efforts to revise the 1987 Constitution.

“Representing a broad and diverse gathering including social movements, Church leaders, political parties, sectoral organizations, NGOs, artists, business people, and individuals, the campaign network will affirm the democratic legacy of Edsa that restored invaluable freedoms from tyranny as enshrined in the 1987 Constitution. They will assert that those who seek to revise the constitution for narrow political and economic interests undermine the spirit of EDSA,” the #BuhayAngEdsa Campaign Network said.

(el Amigo/MNM)