Organizations and individuals under the No to Chacha Network gathered yesterday, February 15, to announce its plan to hold a big rally on the 38th anniversary of the EDSA Uprising on February 24. They urged the Filipino people to launch actions anywhere in the Philippines on February 24. In Manila, groups and individuals will gather in front of the EDSA Shrine.

“Thirty-eight years passed when the people’s struggle for freedom, justice and democracy culminated in the 4-day EDSA uprising that ousted the corrupt and brutal Marcos dictatorship,” opened the network’s statement People’s Unity to Defeat Chacha. The network says one of the victories of this uprising was the 1987 Constitution, which banned political dynasties, set term limits for officials and other guarantees for “checks and balances” in the state. It also specified provisions to ensure that the economy, land, natural resources and key educational and cultural institutions remain in the hands of Filipinos.

Thus, they are opposed to attempts to amend such provisions through people’s initiative or constituent assembly. They said, these attempts are “unnecessary, divisive, costly, and focused mainly on keeping those in power in place.”

Instead of working for chacha, the groups and individuals called for officials to focus on raising wages and income, lowering the price of goods and basic utilities, organizing social services, curbing corruption and red tape, promoting human rights, justice and peace, defending sovereignty in the West Philippine Sea, protecting the environment and ensuring clean and credible elections.

The groups declared plans to carry out extensive information and education campaigns, continue to take back the signatures of those deceived by the bogus people’s initiative initiated by congressmen, hold protests and file relevant cases.

National-democratic organizations, Makabayan bloc congressmen, 1Sambayan members, former government officials, church people, student groups, teachers, other labor groups and many others attended the gathering. Justice Antonio Carpio, Commissioner Rene Sarmiento, Bishop Gerardo A. Alminaza, Atty. Neri Colmenares, Sr. Mary John Mananzan, former DSWD Sec. Judy Taguiwalo and many others were also there.

The press conference was supervised by Teddy Casiño, president of the Bagong Alyansang Makabayan and Atty. Howard Calleja of 1Sambayan.

Among those who signed the declaration against chacha are former senator Kiko Pangilinan, Atty. Lutgardo Barbo of PDP Laban and the office of Sen. Koko Pimentel, Fr. Daniel Franklin Pilario, president of the Adamson University, Dr. Noel Leyco, former president of the Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila, and Diwa Guinigundo, former deputy governor of the Central Bank of the Philippines.

Meanwhile, various national-democratic groups launched protests in Metro Manila to oppose chacha this past week. On Valentine’s Day, farmers and women’s groups marched to Mendiola against the Rice Liberalization Law. Their call: food, not cha-cha. workers also launched an action before the Senate, in time with the hearing on the ₱100 wage increase bill filed before the assembly. They demand: higher wages and salary, not chacha.