Spectre of people power, not respect for Cory, forced Palace to reconsider its Cha-cha bid

The Arroyo regime, through acting Executive Sec. Gabriel Claudio, must have felt that it would be very dangerous to push for Charter change (Cha-cha) in a period of nationwide mourning, according to labor center Kilusang Mayo Uno.

Claudio recently expressed Malacañang’s call to its allies to abandon their efforts to amend the Constitution, a statement that still needs verification given the Arroyo regime’s record of lie-telling.

KMU said the spirit of people’s uprising is once again fresh as people from all walks of life commemorate EDSA 1 with former president Corazon Aquino’s death amid attempts by the Arroyo regime to install a dictatorship.

 “Feeling the spectre of another people power with former president Aquino’s passing away in the face of ever growing anti-Chacha sentiment, the Arroyo regime was forced to reconsider its Cha-cha agenda,” said KMU Chairperson Elmer “Bong” Labog.

“It was definitely not out of respect for Cory. Because if this regime has respect for the former president, Arroyo should have urged her minions in Congress to drop Cha-Cha by the time Cory sent her message against Cha-cha from her bed,” he added.

Labog said the Arroyo regime’s call is still suspect, unless Arroyo makes a categorical statement urging her allies to junk both House Resolutions 1109 and 737.

“Likewise, it would best for the people if Arroyo would make a categorical statement that she will step down in 2010,” he said.

The Arroyo regime’s call to reconsider its Cha-cha agenda also hints the possibility that Arroyo did not secure the support of the Obama administration in her recent US trip, according to Labog.

“But whether the regime really backtracks from its Cha-cha plan or not, the Filipino people will decide on the fate of the Arroyo regime, just like what happened to the US-Marcos regime in EDSA 1,” he said.

“Cory’s final political engagement was marked by her last statement against Cha-cha. The Arroyo regime, meanwhile, will earn its downfall and infamy in history by insisting on Cha-cha,” Labog said. ###