MANILA (Mindanao Examiner / Aug. 21, 2014) – Opposition lawmakers warned that any form of Charter change now whether it be economic or political is dangerous because it will open the flood gates for any or wholesale amendments to the Constitution.
Allies of President Benigno Aquino proposed to amend the Constitution not only to address its economic provisions, but also to extend his term and to accommodate the provisions on the expanded Muslim autonomous region under the Bangsamoro Basic Law.
Rep. Neri Colmenares said its proponents want to open up aspects of economy that are not yet liberalized, deregulated or privatized. All their talk about supposed inclusive growth is just designed to sugar coat the fact that the neo-liberal policy would mean more disadvantages for the people – higher unemployment rates, displacement of peasants from their lands, higher prices for basic commodities and depressed wages.
“Itaga man sa bato kapag nailusot ang Charter change, maliban sa term extension at pagpilay sa Supreme Court, tataas ang presyo ng mga bilihin at serbisyo. Garantisadong mas hihirap ang buhay ng mga Pilipino,” he said.
Rep. Carlos Zarate said that the proposed Charter change now in Congress would certainly open the gates for lobby money of big foreign corporations to flood in Congress and Malacanang. At the same time it would mean more foreign plunder and bureaucratic corruption.
Zarate strongly denounced the blatant interference in the country’s internal affairs by American, European and other foreign chambers of commerce by ramming into our throats the Constitutional amendments. The foreign chambers are the spearhead of the pro-imperialist and anti-Filipino Charter change lobby but they cannot do it without the consent of the President and Congress serving as a willing tool, he said.
“If this Charter change succeeds then we are going to be more at the mercy of big foreign business groups that wants to buy our country and unscrupulous politicians who are all too willing to sell it. It may not be long that we may become squatters in our own country because foreigners would own most if not all of it; we will become a new colony by multinational foreign masters. It is therefore imperative that we must do all we can to stop it,” he said.
Like us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mindanaoexaminer
Follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/MindanaoExamine
20