We are outraged by the railroading of administration lawmakers in approving a House-only constituent assembly preparatory to amending the Constitution. By setting aside the check-and-balance mechanism inherent in a two-chamber legislature, the pro-Arroyo lawmakers in Congress have led us down into the road of perdition.

As in the two failed impeachment complaints lodged against Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, in the past, her cohorts in the House of Representatives have again displayed the arrogance of numbers. They have transformed the House of Representatives into a Constituent Assembly and have excluded the Senate in the process in clear violation of the Constitution.

After the failed people’s initiative, the GMA regime is hell bent in pushing for Charter Change to perpetuate itself in power and consolidate her political bloc. She’s not willing to risk Charter Change after elections because she fears she cannot have the numbers by then. Due to the widespread popular disgust against the Arroyo administration, the political opposition may win enough seats in Congress that will make an impeachment a real possibility the third time around.

Also, the GMA regime is maximizing every opportunity to fulfill her commitment to her imperialist master, in time for the ASEAN Summit on December 11-14. Through cha-cha, GMA is removing whatever is left of the protectionist provisions in the constitution. Such would exacerbate the marginalization of indigenous peoples from their ancestral lands as destructive projects such as mining enter unhampered to plunder resources. Moreover, this regime will tighten its national policy on state terrorism through the proposed amendments to the Bill of Rights in the constitution.

The administration lawmakers, including our Cordillera representatives have shamelessly collaborated with Malacanang to fast track the change in the form of government giving tremendous powers to the parliament, which administration lawmakers will control. Such is a clear case of political greed and opportunism.

We call on the Cordillera people to join us in holding protest actions to once and for all stop in its tracks the illegal runaway cha-cha train. We call on the people to stand up and oppose the patently illegal moves to perpetuate GMA and her allies in power.

Enough of political maneuvers!
Fight Con-Ass!
Oust GMA!

Tongtongan Ti Umili
Cordillera Peoples Alliance
December 7, 2006