MANILA, Philippines - A renewed drive to amend the 1987 Constitution betrays President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo's "resolve" to stay in power after 2010, militant think tank IBON Foundation said Wednesday.
IBON said in its midyear political assessment report that Charter change appears to be the maximum objective of the Arroyo administration in the coming months.
"Charter change (Cha-cha) for now appears to be the preferred mechanism for allowing Pres. Arroyo to retain power through a shift to a federal-parliamentary government. Cha-cha is also a means of gaining the continued support of various political and economic interest groups, including foreign governments and elite capital," it said.
But it said the moves toward Cha-cha would not be smooth given Mrs Arroyo's immense unpopularity and the general perception that such moves only serve her self-interest.
This early, it noted the public has detected that the present initiative is no different from past attempts to change the 1987 Constitution.
IBON noted that in its past opinion surveys, the public has "consistently rejected" such moves.
"Similar to previous Cha-cha initiatives, the government's renewed campaign will also likely recommend the removal of vital constitutional protections for the public good and weakening of economic sovereignty provisions in the charter," it said.
"Lifting these provisions would surely intensify the people's already dire economic situation while benefiting foreign and elite corporate interests," it added. - GMANews.TV