Author: DAVAO TODAY

President Arroyo says Thursday: “The true power of the people is being felt with the signature campaign to change our form of government?

By Jetty Ayop-Ohaylan
davaotoday.com

DAVAO CITY ? Several progressive groups from this city launched on Thursday a signature campaign against Charter change, in an attempt to counter an alleged deceptive campaign by the Arroyo administration to railroad the shift to a parliamentary form of government.

In Tagaytay City, President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo openly declared her advocacy of constitutional amendments through a ?people?s initiative,? which involves the gathering of the signatures of at least 12 percent of registered voters nationwide.

In her keynote speech at the 2006 Philippines Development Forum, Arroyo said, “The true power of the people is being felt with the signature campaign to change our form of government.? She labeled as “petty politics” the opposition to the amendments.

“This is why charter change is so important: to help break the back of petty politics of the status quo that may put headlines in the paper but does nothing to put food on the table,” the president said.

(more…)

Related item
Law Groups Unmask Cha-Cha’s Public Deception

By Germelina A. Lacorte and Cheryll D. Fiel
davaotoday.com

DAVAO CITY ? Officials in this city resent the Arroyo administration?s alleged attempts to gain support for the drive to amend the Constitution as a condition for the release of the city?s share of Internal Revenue Allotment (IRA) funds.

?It?s unfair,? city councilor Peter Lavi?a said, referring to the planned release of some 17.5 billion pesos of IRA funds that had been retained from local government units in 2000 and 2001.

Lavi?a said these funds would only be released if local government officials would support the administration?s ?people?s initiative? campaign for Charter change that would, in turn, pave the way to a shift to a parliamentary form of government.

(more…)