1987 Philippine Constitution Charter Change: People’s Initiative

Black and White Movement Poster
The proposed unicameral system shall abolish the senate. Majority of Philippine senators want to convene Constitutional Convention to REVISE the 1987 Philippine Constitution. The Sigaw ng Bayan people’s initiative can only AMEND the Constitution. Fundamental changes in the proposed parliamentary and federal form of government is categorize as total REVISION of the Constitution. The Malacanang- sponsored people’s initiative is full of deception. Ordinary Filipinos canhardlyunderstand the proposed amendments. It’s impossible in a short period of time that the so-called barangay assembly fully discussed all suggested amendments. Malacanang Palace mobilized local government units to gather petition signatures for charter change thru peoples’ initiative. There is no enabling law allowing the people’s initiative to amend the Constitution. The organizers, Sigaw ng Bayan and ULAP are just fooling the people to sign charter change petition without explaining what they are signing for. Signatories to the petition had been enticed by offers of money and a sack of rice each to sign the petition. Mrs. Gloria Macapagal Arroyo wants consolidate political power in the proposed parliamentary unicameral system. Majority of the Filipino people wants charter change thru Constitutional Convention and after the end of the Arroyo’s presidency.

Mrs. Gloria Arroyo cannot conceal her intent to stay in political power beyond 2010 and obsessive desire for money and material wealth. Arroyo and her congressional cohorts want to impose against the will of the Filipino people a bogus peoples’ initiative for charter change and alternative CON-ASS. They are desperate and do all remedies to satisfy their greed for power. Gloria Arroyo’s greed for power can be traced back in 2001 power grab and massive cheating in 2004 presidential elections. Malacanang sponsored charter change contradicts the aspiration of the Filipino people for economic freedom and genuine republican democracy.

ARTICLE XVII
AMENDMENTS OR REVISIONS
Section 1. Any amendment to, or revision of, this Constitution may be proposed by:
(1) The Congress, upon a vote of three-fourths of all its Members; or
(2) A constitutional convention.

Section 2. Amendments to this Constitution may likewise be directly proposed by the people through initiative upon a petition of at least twelve per centum of the total number of registered voters, of which every legislative district must be represented by at least three per centum of the registered voters therein. No amendment under this section shall be authorized within five years following the ratification of this Constitution nor oftener than once every five years thereafter.

The Congress shall provide for the implementation of the exercise of this right.
Section 3. The Congress may, by a vote of two-thirds of all its Members, call a constitutional convention, or by a majority vote of all its Members, submit to the electorate the question of calling such a convention.
Section 4. Any amendment to, or revision of, this Constitution under Section 1 hereof shall be valid when ratified by a majority of the votes cast in a plebiscite which shall be held not earlier than sixty days nor later than ninety days after the approval of such amendment or revision.

Any amendment under Section 2 hereof shall be valid when ratified by a majority of the votes cast in a plebiscite which shall be held not earlier than sixty days nor later than ninety days after the certification by the Commission on Elections of the sufficiency of the petition.

Related Links:
Only Names Verified, Not Signatures in Sigaw ng Bayan-ULAP's PI
Philippine Constitution Article XVII Amendment or Revision
PCIJ
Charter Change