ILOILO City – Over a hundred individuals from diverse groups and sectors converged at the Iloilo provincial capitol on Sunday morning, Feb. 25, to mark the 38th anniversary of the EDSA People Power Revolution.
The assembly also served as a platform for expressing opposition to the proposed Charter Change, aimed at amending the 1978 Constitution.
The rally, led by the “No To Charter Change Coalition Panay,” the Iloilo chapter of the Liberal Party Magayon, various cause-oriented groups, and students, underscored their collective disapproval of the Charter Change.
The coalition, which includes prominent figures such as Rev. Msgr. Meliton Oso from the Jaro Archdiocesan Social Action Center; Rev. Msgr. Marco Sulayao from the Promotion of Church People’s Response – Panay and Guimaras; Rev. Dr. Melvin Mangana from the Convention of Philippine Baptist Churches; and Rev. Winston Mariano from the United Church of Christ in the Philippines, along with others, stood united against the proposed constitutional amendment.
Irma Espinosa, representing the Bayan Muna party-list Panay and a convenor of the coalition, highlighted that while the spirit of EDSA continues to resonate, its essence is overshadowed by the corruption plaguing the government.
In her speech during the commemoration, Espinosa emphasized, “The spirit of EDSA is alive. However, corrupt forces in Malacañang persist.”
The coalition, through a letter, expressed its belief that the proposed amendments to the Constitution fail to address the country’s pressing social issues and instead pose a significant threat to democracy.
They argue that such changes could lead to greater exploitation, the plunder of natural resources, and the entrenchment of political dynasties.
The group also highlighted pressing national issues, including the lack of genuine land reform, low wages, high inflation rates, human rights violations, and threats to sovereignty.
They criticized the government’s prioritization of Charter Change, viewing it as a misallocation of resources that could be better spent on social services and economic development.
Gerard Peñaranda, from the Liberal Party, voiced concerns about the hasty amendment process lacking in-depth examination and study.
Mario Andon, president of the Western Visayas United Labor Alliance, feared that the amendments could distort the country’s democratic history.
Lucy Francisco, from Gabriela Panay and Guimaras, argued that the economic changes proposed through Charter Change would primarily benefit large corporations at the expense of the economically vulnerable.
Professor Early Sol Gadong, from the All-UP Academic Employees Union, stressed the importance of academic institutions in fostering awareness about the potential impacts of Charter Change on education. Lucia Capaducio, from Paghugpong sang Mangunguma sa Panay kag Guimaras (PAMANGGAS), succinctly stated that Charter Change is not the solution to the challenges faced by farmers, summarizing their stance with the phrase, “Land, not Charter Change.”/PN
