The Anti Cha-Cha Movement

There is a strong opposition from different sectors of the masses to the moves of the administration to amend the constitution through the Constituent Assembly (ConAss). Workers, students, church people, the academe, the business sector, artists, politicians, massed-up at the Ayala Avenue last June 10, 2009, to show GMA and her supporters that the people don't want their brand of Charter Change. The administration of Pres. Gloria Macapagal Arroyo wants to change the constitution to insert provisions to liberalize more the economy, in support of the dictates of the IMF-WB, and to extend her term of office with whatever way possible. One possible way is to change the present presidential system into a parliamentary form of government, where the Prime Minister rules the country. One justification in extending her term is to continue the implementation of her economic policies. The anti Cha Cha movement will continue as long as her cohorts in both chambers of congress are pushing charter change. There are also supporters of the movement from both chambers, but majority of the politicians are just using the event for personal gains and for political mileage. One such trapo is Jose De Venecia, the staunchest supporter of GMA before, but because of competition in business, they parted ways. He showed up at the event to flash his trapo face and spoke of his opposition to Cha Cha. But the people cannot be swayed easily by this kind of politicking, so they booed him and shouted trapo, trapo, trapo. It just feels right.