MANILA, June 5, 2009- Catholic bishops are calling on the people to go to the streets to denounce Charter change via constituent assembly (Con-ass).
Manila Auxiliary Bishop Broderick Pabillo said the people should air their sentiments against the planned mode for Constitutional amendments before it's too late.
"The people should really show their opposition now before time runs out," said Pabillo who chairs the National Secretariat for Social Action of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines (CBCP).
The bishop said while Charter change will surely have to pass the eye of the needle, the public must act early before things turn worse.
He said questioning the Con-ass before the court is an option but added that people must not rely on it solely "because even the justice system can be influenced (by top government officials)."
Various civil society groups are already planning huge protest actions against the attempt by President Arroyo's allies in Congress to revise the Charter.
Caloocan Bishop Deogracias Iñiguez said Catholic prelates are definitely not going to let themselves be left behind.
He said that it is likely that the Catholic bishops' leadership would surely be in solidarity with the planned mass actions against the recent passage of House Resolution 1109.
According to CBCP Permanent Committee on Public Affairs Chairman, he is yet not aware of any plans by the Conference to organize a prayer rally against Charter Change (Cha-Cha) similar to what it did back in 2006.
"Most probably it will not initiate but it may join the others," Iñiguez said.
In December 2006, the CBCP organized a prayer rally at the Quirino Grandstand in Manila to show Malacañang the public's strong opposition against Cha-Cha via the touted "people's initiative."
Iniguez's belief was echoed by Bohol Bishop Leonardo Medroso, saying the people's voice is clear that it is against Cha-Cha under the current regime.
"The church is always behind the majority and we will always side with what is right," Medroso said.
The bishops' opposition to Charter change especially through a constituent assembly is always connected with the idea of removing term limits of President Arroyo.
They said that the credibility problem of the Cha-Cha proponents is at its worse that ordinary people cannot just take it at face value.
Members of the United Opposition, civil society groups, militant organizations and detained military officials are already planning a series of mass actions against the moves to amend the Constitution ahead of the 2010 polls.
The religious community, led by JIL leader Bro. Eddie Villanueva, is also set to organize rallies against what is termed to be the "clearest indication" of Arroyo's attempt to stay in power beyond 2010. (Roy Lagarde)