Macapagal-Arroyo now openly favors cha-cha
It did not take long before Macapagal-Arroyo shed her pretensions of losing interest in remaining in power beyond 2004 either via elections or charter change. At any rate, she wasn't able to fool too many people with her "politically ascendant" stance. From the very start, it was clear that she was merely maneuvering to quell the growing disgust and hatred for her regime and open different options to enable her to stay in power.
On January 18, after a long period of playing hard-to-get, Macapagal-Arroyo declared that she was in favor of cha-cha. She declared her preference for a constitutional convention as a way of amending the constitution because this was supposedly less divisive. Macapagal-Arroyo makes it appear that she favors a constitutional convention because she has promised that elections would push through in 2004. Nonetheless, she does not oppose the stronger clamor for a constituent assembly and has in fact mobilized her partymates in the senate and congress to form it immediately.
Compared to forming a constitutional convention, it is easier for the Macapagal-Arroyo regime to call a constituent assembly because this merely involves transforming the present senate and congress into one. The regime would then be more confident about the composition of the body tasked with changing the constitution.
Like the previous puppet presidents and those now in power, Macapagal-Arroyo's desire to use the cha-cha to effect a peaceful power-sharing scheme and way of staying in power is quite obvious.
But it is also in the interest of the entire reactionary ruling class to advance charter change in the hope of alleviating the severe crisis and the people's widespread disgust for the existing situation and social system. At the same time, the reactionaries are continually looking for more effective means of intensifying their exploitation and oppression of the people through charter change.
Reformists peddle the view that needed changes may be coursed through "improvements" in the constitution. Counterrevolutionary elements, in turn, are taking advantage of this view to douse cold water on the masses' rising anger over the obtaining exploitative and oppressive social system and derail them from the path of militant protest, uprising and revolution.
Most of all, it is the US that is taking the lead in pushing for charter change. It wants to remove from the Philippine constitution obstacles to globalization and neoliberalization. US Ambassador Francis Ricciardone himself has admitted this and has warned that without charter change, the Philippines would be left behind in terms of development. Moreover, the US would also like the withdrawal of provisions that prohibit basing by US military forces and the entry of nuclear arms in the country.
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