People�s Initiative Under False Pretenses

Based on reports citing the unscrupulous ways that the signatures were gathered, it seems not everyone is boarding the Cha-cha �train� voluntarily.

By Michael Goyagoy
Ibon Features

MANILA � Although Malaca�ang denies having anything to do with it, President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo recently declared her support for charter change through the people�s initiative. In typical fashion, Arroyo likened the people�s initiative to a train that has already left the station, and warned those who oppose it to get out of the way or be run over. But based on reports citing the less-than-scrupulous ways the signatures were gathered, it seems that not everyone is on the Cha-cha �train� voluntarily.

Charter change through a people�s initiative requires gathering some 12% of registered voters or 4.8 million signatures, with no less than 3% in any congressional district throughout the Philippines. When the necessary number of signatures is gathered and verified, a plebiscite can be held on changing provisions in the 1987 Constitution shifting the form of government from presidential to parliamentary.

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