National Statement

No to Charter Change in the Philippines! Oust President Arroyo, Now!

December 15, 2006

As overseas Filipinos in Canada, we stand in solidarity with those joining a prayer rally in the Philippines on December 17 who are firmly opposed to Philippine President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo’s push for Charter Change (Cha-Cha). We join the growing number of voices that decry the Arroyo regime’s proposal to change the 1987 Constitution as a blatant attempt to extend her stay in power. Despite the regime’s recent statements backing away from an immediate implementation of the Cha-Cha, we must be vigilant and remain firmly opposed to the Cha-Cha in whatever form it will take (people’s initiative, constituent assembly or constitutional convention).

The Cha-Cha is simply a way for Arroyo to hold onto power until 2010 or beyond. The Cha-Cha justifies the ushering in of a “no-limits” take over of the country’s natural resources and land by 100% foreign-owned companies in a sell-off of the people’s national patrimony.

The Cha-Cha must be seen in the context of the current crisis besieging the Arroyo regime. There are swelling demands for Arroyo to resign or be ousted for the growing list of her corrupt and anti-people policies. Since 2001, her regime’s economic policies have worsened poverty and unrest. Despite evidence of electoral fraud in the 2004 elections, known as the Hello Garci scandal, and several impeachment attempts, the regime desperately clings to power – leading more people to join popular street protests calling for her ouster.

The people are also outraged about the regime’s increasingly militarist and repressive character. In February 2006, she declared a State of Emergency using it as an excuse to immediately crackdown on the opposition to her regime. For example, she illegally arrested Congressman Crispin “Ka Bel” Beltran, who still languishes in illegal detention. The attempt to silence dissent is part of the Arroyo regime’s counter-insurgency plan, known as Oplan Bantay Laya (Freedom Watch), which aims to crush the revolutionary movement in the Philippines within three years. A disturbing part of Oplan Bantay Laya is the military’s open targeting of civilians and members and leaders of legal, progressive people’s organizations and party-list organizations by branding them as “communists” and “terrorists.” This has led to the brutal and heinous spate of state-perpetrated political killings, in which there have been over 800 extra-judicial killings and over 200 disappearances under the Arroyo regime. Despite condemnation from the international community, the killings continue on with impunity.

The Arroyo regime is pushing the Cha-Cha when there are many more immediate problems facing the people that need to be dealt with. For example, recent typhoons have left over 1000 people dead, hundreds missing and thousands without homes. Yet instead of concentrating on needed humanitarian aid and relief, the Arroyo regime has busied itself with its desperate push for the Cha-Cha which would cost an estimated 8 – 10 billion pesos.

As overseas Filipinos, we join the broad sectors of Philippine society opposing Charter Change. As migrant workers, youth, women and other professionals, we were forced to migrate to Canada because of a lack of economic opportunities at home. Once abroad we become the cheap labour of Canada, victims of exploitative, racist and anti-woman policies such as the Live-in Caregiver Program which sentences us to a lifetime of domestic work. As youth, we face systemic racism in the schools, workplaces and justice system. As women, we face violence in all its forms. As professionals, we face discrimination with the non-recognition of our education and skills.

Despite being dependent on our remittances to keep the Philippine economy afloat, the Arroyo regime does nothing to protect our rights or serve our interests and continues to export us through the Labor Export Program. At the same time, our families left behind face worsening economic conditions, social and political crises and attacks on their human rights.

The Cha-Cha is not the answer to cure the Philippine’s ails, when it is a corrupt system and government which ails it. A wolf does not become a sheep by changing its clothing. Ultimately it is the people who will resoundingly reject this Charter Change and will define through their own collective efforts a truly national, democratic and free Philippines.

No to Arroyo’s Charter Change!
Martial Law, never again!
Oust President Arroyo, now!
Set up the transitional people’s council!
Support the Filipino people’s struggle for national democracy and genuine liberation!

National Statement of
National Alliance of Philippine Women in Canada
SIKLAB National (overseas migrant worker organization in Canada)
Ugnayan National (Filipino-Canadian Youth Alliance/Ugnayan ng Kabataang Pilipino sa Canada)
Filipino Nurses Support Group
BC Committee for Human Rights in the Philippines