More Catholic bishops call on flock to shun Cha-cha
COTABATO CITY—More Catholic bishops have joined calls to resist the push for Charter change (Cha-cha) through people’s initiative, as they urged parishioners to reject a campaign among politicians to gather signatures.Bishop Jose Bagaforo of the diocese of Kidapawan City, capital of Cotabato province, issued a statement on Friday saying the campaign to amend the 1987 Constitution is “not a silver bullet for the Philippines’ economic woes.”
“Poverty will always be a problem if corruption is allowed to fester within our government,” he said.
‘Time and resources’
“Any attempt to alter the Constitution, especially when shrouded in secrecy and lacking genuine public participation, raises serious concerns about its true motives,” he added.
“The country’s fundamental law is not a political football to be kicked around at the whims of those in power,” said the bishop, who also heads Caritas Philippines, the social arm of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP).
Bagaforo said that “Instead of wasting time and resources on amending the Constitution, the government should prioritize measures to eradicate corruption and ensure the efficient and effective delivery of basic social services to our people.”
“The CBCP has always taught that if the Constitution is to be revised at all, the process should lead to a greater defense and promotion of the moral values of human dignity and human rights, integrity and truth, participation and solidarity, and the common good,” he added.
“Let’s focus on building a just and equitable society, not on rewriting the Constitution for personal gain,” Bagaforo said.
Bishop Edwin dela Peña of Marawi City, provincial capital of Lanao del Sur, said on Facebook that “Here in our prelature, we are strictly prohibiting the signing of any people’s initiative to supposedly revise the Constitution.”
“The only initiative currently circulating is the one that came from the politicians. We ought to have already learned from all the burden they have caused to the countrymen,” he added.
Bishop Broderick Pabillo of the Apostolic Vicariate of Taytay town in Palawan province, was the first to articulate that position in a statement on Thursday.
“Tell the people not to sign [any petition for Cha-cha]. This is not an initiative of the people but only of a few politicians,” he said.
He also urged the Catholic faithful to shun alleged payouts in exchange for their signatures.
Another Church leader, Fr. Antonio Labiao Jr., parish priest of Novaliches Cathedral, said the government should tackle reforms such as making the mining industry more attuned to environmental protection and curtailing the influence of political dynasties.
Avoid being tricked
Meanwhile, Sen. Imee Marcos urged the public to be more aware of the news so as not to be tricked into supporting Cha-cha.President Marcos’ elder sister cited a solo parent admitting in a television interview that she was offered P3,000 if she signed a petition pushing for constitutional amendments.
“[They should watch the news] more often so that they will be aware that some local government employees are tricking people into signing the petition on the pretext that it is a list for ayuda (cash assistance),” she told reporters. —WITH A REPORT FROM MARLON RAMOS INQ
