Press Release
December 15, 2008

ROXAS TO GMA: STOP YOUR ALLIES FROM DANCING CHA-CHA

Liberal President Senator Mar Roxas challenged President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo to put her money where her mouth is and stop her allies and relatives from forcing Charter change on the people.

"Panay hugas-kamay lang ang naririnig natin kay Pangulong Arroyo. Subalit ang mga tumutulak sa Cha-Cha sa House of Representatives ay mga kaalyado at kamag-anak niya (All we hear if President Arroyo's washing hands of the whole affair. But all those pushing for Cha-Cha in the House of Representatives are her allies and relatives)," said Roxas, who led the Liberal Party last Friday in a march against Cha-Cha held in Makati with other opposition leaders and multi-sectoral organizations.

"Bilang opisyal ng kanyang partido, pwedeng awatin ni Gloria ang mga kongresista at sabihin na, 'Hindi natin prayoridad ang Cha-Cha. Pakainin muna natin ang taong bayan sa panahong krisis' (As an official of her political party, Gloria can tell congressmen that, 'Cha-Cha is not our priority. Let's feed the people first during this time of crisis')," he said.

The Ilonggo senator also cautioned the public in believing that the administration's attempts at Charter change are over, with the House leadership claiming to drop its plans for a constituent assembly.. He noted that previous attempts had died down only to come back in another form, as was the case with the 2006 "People's Initiative."

"Para silang mga daga na hinihintay ang pag-alis ng pusa. Huwag tayong basta-basta maniwala na tumigil na ang plano ng administrasyon para sa Cha-Cha. Noon pa nila ito sinasabi, ngunit maya-maya bumabangon muli ito (They're like mice waiting for the cat to go away. Let's not believe that the administration's plan for Cha-Cha has stopped. They've been saying this for a long time, only for it to rise again)," he said..

Roxas and other LP officials in the Senate and House are calling for a constitutional convention, where delegates will be elected the same time as the 2010 elections.

"Kung may Charter change man, ay dapat sa pamamagitan ng constitutional convention pagkatapos ng terminong Arroyo. May panukala na rin ito sa House, at mas maganda na talakayin nila ito kaysa sa con-ass na para sa interes ng mga iilan lamang (If there will be Charter change, this should be done through a constitutional convention after Arroyo's term. The same measure has been filed at the House, and it's better that they tackle this instead of the con-ass that is self-serving for a select few),"

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