Nationwide barangay assemblies part of "Malacañang initiative" to assert ChaCha past broad people's opposition

The militant labor center Kilusang Mayo Uno (KMU) today said that the simultaneous nationwide barangay assemblies that will take place tomorrow is not a part of People Initiative but a Malacañang initiative to assert Charter Change despite the broad opposition of Senators, peoples organizations and other concerned sectors. "Kitang-kita ang kamay ng Malakanyang sa pagsasagawa ng mga barangay assemblies na ito. Malinaw ang kumpas na para ito sa Chacha at iba para sa mga usaping pambarangay."

"A Malacanang-led 'People's Initiative' is hoax. The people have spoken and decided a long time ago, Arroyo's Charter Change is not acceptable as it only aims to worsen the already bad Constitution. Broad protests failed Fidel Ramos' people's initiative."

ChaCha will not benefit workers, it will only do good to foreign big businesses. Once approved, Chacha will further seal and ensure their economic interests in the Philippines at the expense of the Filipino people," asserted KMU Spokesperson Presto Suyat.

"Despite claims of Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Ronaldo Puno that the assemblies are independent efforts, Malacanang's control on these so-called assemblies is very obvious. Through these barangay assemblies, the main proponents of Charter Change aim to gather signatures without even informing the public on the real intents and purposes of the Charter Change proposals."

"The administration is attempting to transform barangay councils into machineries for Charter Change. It is likely that Malacanang is illegally bankrolling these activities. True to her character, Arroyo is exploiting government resources and the people's hard-earned tax money to advance her own interests."

"After failing to transform Congress into a Constituent Assembly, Malacanang is turning to barangay level assemblies. Like what happened to previous regimes, broad people's protests will fail Arroyo's Charter Change."