REJECT AND OPPOSE MARCOS JR’S CHARTER CHANGE! DEFEND HUMAN RIGHTS, DEMOCRACY AND SOVEREIGNTY!
Malaya Movement USA condemns and opposes the current push to revise the 1987 Philippine Constitution. This effort is clearly self-serving, unnecessary and dangerous. We, in the Malaya Movement USA, call on the Filipino people to reject and oppose the current moves of the Marcos-Duterte regime to change the constitution.
While the 1987 Constitution is not perfect, this constitution was the product of the EDSA People’s Power Uprising. The people’s movement won the inclusion of provisions that are aimed at protecting the interests of the Filipino people. This constitution placed term limits on all elected officials, especially the executive, and placed limitations on the executive’s ability to declare martial law. This constitution also included social justice and nationalist provisions aimed at addressing the fundamental problems of an unjust economic order in the Philippines as well as protect it from being dominated by foreign powers through the economic protections that prevent 100% full foreign ownership of companies within Philippine territory.
This recent move to change the constitution only serves the interests of the Marcos-Duterte regime and the various political dynasties. While Marcos Jr. said that it is not the priority of his administration, the moves of his minions in congress clearly shows otherwise. By opening up the constitution for revision, dangerous provisions proposed before such as curbing people’s civil and political rights, eliminating term limits for the elected officials, and eliminating the nationalist and protectionist provisions will be disastrous to human rights, democracy and sovereignty in the Philippines.
We believe that the 1987 Constitution is not the root of the national problems afflicting the Filipino people. Landlessness, unemployment and poverty are caused by more systemic problems of the continuing dominance of landlords and land monopolies, the absence of national industries, and a neo-colonial economy that doesn’t serve the immediate and long term interests of the Filipino people.
The Philippine government and the Marcos-Duterte regime need to focus on resolving and ameliorating the disastrous impacts of the economic crisis on the Filipino people instead of prioritizing charter change. Inflation is at an all time high of 8.7% and is devastating the poorest Filipinos by the surging price of basic goods. We need immediate government action to provide economic aid to the poor, raise wages and improve working conditions in the short term and a comprehensive program to develop our agriculture and industry in the long term. Not a self-serving, unnecessary and costly effort to change the constitution.
We in the Malaya Movement USA call on the Filipino people and our allies to reject and oppose Marcos Jr.’s efforts for Charter Change! We encourage patriotic Filipinos in the diaspora to get organized and prepare to take action if the Marcos-Duterte regime continues with its efforts to change the constitution.
No to Marcos Jr’s charter change!
Economic relief not charter change!
