Dabawenyos declaring they are “not for sale” with the print on their shirts and on their placard join the prayer rally against charter change along San Pedro St. in downtown Davao City Sunday night (28 January 2024). MindaNews photo by MANMAN DEJETO
DAVAO CITY (MindaNews / 29 January) – Thousands of Dabawenyos are opposing the efforts to amend the 1987 Philippine Constitution through people’s initiative as the signature campaign lacked transparency and was fraught with deception.
In an interview during the Candlelight Prayer Rally at San Pedro Street here on Sunday, Alvin Alderol, purok leader of Barangay Lapu-Lapu in Agdao District, said some residents in their barangay were reportedly asked to sign the signature sheets for the people’s initiative in exchange of some aid or assistance.
He said that it was not explained to the people what a people’s initiative is, and what the signature is for.
“It is dangerous because they did not explain to the people. They did not know what it was for. They just signed thinking they would receive assistance from them,” he said.
If charter change (Cha-Cha) pushes through, he said that he would rather favor federalism, a form of government being pushed during the time of former President Rodrigo R. Duterte.
Article XVII, Section 2 of the 1987 Constitution provides that people may directly propose amendments to the current Constitution through people’s initiative upon a petition of at least 12 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.
Around 53,500 individuals from different parts of the country attended the prayer rally, according to the Davao City Police Office.
But using a tool called Mapchecker, MindaNews determined that even at a fully packed capacity, the stretch of San Pedro Street from CM Recto to Legaspi can only be filled to around 27,443 persons at 1.50 people per square meter. Crowded, the area would only have around 13,721 persons.
Rizaline Nuñez, a resident of Barangay 19-B, admitted that she knew little about the people’s initiative but said she joined the prayer rally because she wanted to educate herself and to support Vice President Sara Duterte.
“We came to this rally to support the vice president. As Dabawenyos, we will support her no matter what,” she said.
Editha Camilon, a resident of Barangay Cabantian, joined the rally along with 200 others from her barangay to oppose moves to change the Constitution through the people’s initiative as she feared it would threaten democracy.
“Sa akong pag sabot ani kay cha-cha. Ingon nila pag matuman ang cha-cha, wala nay demokrasya. Wala na tay tingog sa katawhan (They said if cha-cha pushes through, we will no longer have democracy. People will no longer have a voice),” she said.
Alimodin A. Usman, Barangay 23-C chairman, believed that there would be chaos in Mindanao if the administration of President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. and the House of Representatives would push through with charter change.
“We already experienced martial law during the time of Marcos Sr. (former President Ferdinand Marcos Sr.). That’s why we are watchful this time to prevent the same chaos from happening,” he said.
Usman said that the people’s initiative would only favor the current Marcos Jr. administration.
“They don’t want to vacate their positions,” he said, referring to the ruling Marcos Family.
But he added the term limit must be respected and that elections must be conducted to choose the successor of Marcos Jr. once he steps down from the Presidency in 2028.
“The primary message is, ‘Dabawenyos are not for sale.’ We, in the second district, will not sell our signatures,” he said.
He said their participation in the rally was voluntary and meant to unite with other Dabawenyos in opposing the people’s initiative.
Mark Galvez, chairman of Barangay Communal, said that individuals behind the signature campaign should be transparent and must be accountable, saying it was inappropriate to deceive people into signing the signature campaign.
“We need to know who we should hold accountable for conducting this activity because it is the welfare of the entire nation, not only of Davao and Mindanao, that is at stake,” he said.
He added that for the last two weeks, there were groups going around his barangay encouraging people to sign in exchange of P100, P2,000, or P3,000 cash.
He said the process involved was “unfair” and intended to deceive the public and if it pushes through, the outcome will not be good as the people will be distrustful of the charter change. (Antonio L. Colina IV / MindaNews)
