Charter Change efforts shows Arroyo's greed absolute, beyond moderation

“The moves for Charter Change is a another example of how the ruling clique headed by Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo wants to hold on to power incessantly to fulfill their insatiable greed. Arroyo wants it all and the term 'moderation' will never be a part of her vocabulary.”

This was the take of the Kilusang Mayo Uno (KMU) Labor Center on the recent moves of the Arroyo allies to change the constitution and extend her term in power. The labor center strongly believes Charter Change was one of the driving force behind the removal of former Speaker of the House Jose de Venecia who was replaced earlier by Davao Representative Prospero Nograles, a close friend of the First Gentleman Jose Miguel Arroyo.

“It is wishful thinking for anybody to ask the Arroyo's to moderate their greed. The Mafia in Malacanang have stolen and will continue to steal the public coffers while it remains in power. This is why they want to revive changing the charter using the cloak of federalism so they can remain on top. It is unadulterated greed, pure and simple,” said Elmer “Ka Bong” Labog, National Chairperson of the KMU.

But the labor leader warned the recent maneuvers of Arroyo maybe her own undoing. “The security forces abducted National Broadband Network scam witness Rodolfo Lozada to prevent him from telling the shady deals done by the regime behind the project and it blew on their face. Now, with moves to revive the Charter and continued human rights violations, the broad spectrum of forces, including good governance, human rights and anti-Charter Change advocates, the Church, the legal opposition and the peoples movement, are being galvanized on a neck-breaking speed and are coming together again to demand a change.”

“We will heed the call of the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) for communal action by conducting various industrial and street actions. The National Council of the KMU have instructed our regional formations to do the same. We will definitely take part in Friday's gathering at Makati,” ended Labog.