The One Negros Ecumenical Council (ONE-C) launched a broad campaign against charter change or chacha yesterday, February 10, in St. Joseph the Worker Parish Church of the Iglesia Filipina Independiente (IFI) in Bacolod City. Among those who spoke in the program were Rep. Neri Colmenares, leader of Bayan Muna, and former governor of Negros Occidental, Rafael Coscolluela.

Leaders of various churches, religious denominations, non-governmental organizations, and mass organizations of lawyers, youth, academics and professionals joined in the gathering. Transport groups, workers, farmers and others also joined.

According to Bishop Gerardo Alminaza, president of ONE-C and bishop of San Carlos, the campaign was launched to strengthen the response of the Church and church people, and in solidarity with all “good citizens in the call for alternative measures based on justice and compassion.”

In the press conference launched after the forum, Colmenares described the latest signing scheme for chacha as the “fastest” and “broadest” in the history of the scheme pushed by previous regimes. This indicates the mobilization of local officials using public funds.

He invited the participants of the forum to join the action on February 25, the anniversary of the Edsa Uprising.