The psalmist laments over the way the mighty trample upon the weak beneath their feet. He condemns the violent ways and deceptive designs they wrought to feed their greed for power and wealth, which drag the poor to deeper destitution. In the midst of oppression and exploitation, the psalmist assures the poor that God will bring them relief and do them justice, as God will certainly stretched out his hands to topple the tyrants and rebuke their wicked ways.
We steadfastly cling to this promise of relief and hope for God’s justice in the midst of the ever worsening and devastating crisis that plagues the nation and continue to impoverish our people.
The Philippines is a country beset with crisis. Year in and year out, our nation has been besieged with all kinds of debilitating crisis that have greatly affected our economic, political, social and moral life as a people. The national soul and our sense of pride as a nation state are being consistently eroded to the point where the social fabric that welds the Filipino as a people is at its critical point of breaking down. The moans and cries of a desperate citizenry, shouts for help and deliverance are heard everywhere - in the countryside, in the parliament of the street, even in the halls and corridors of power – of this our battered land.
Our national life is in disarray. There is a breakdown in governance and in our democratic processes and institutions. The national leaders are divided along party lines and personal interests. From all indications, the common good is no longer the primary agendum of politicians and political leaders both in high and low echelons of power in government. Those who have been elected and charged with the primordial task of promoting the common welfare and well being of the Filipino people have turned their back against the citizenry fleecing the people with more taxes while facing, with subservient attitude, the authors and executors of imperialist globalization. Meanwhile, graft and corruption has turned from bad to worse. The consequence of this mockery and betrayal of public trust is a people perpetually chained to a life of poverty and death.
The present dispensation under Ms. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo is offering Charter Change as the solution to the political, economic, social and moral crisis engulfing the Philippines. As in ages past, the powers-that-be in this our troubled land do not think twice in raising an accusing finger elsewhere but to themselves. Like Pontius Pilate of old, the incumbent leadership want to wash their hands by pointing to the system of government as the culprit in bringing about this national malady debilitating our beloved country.
The 1987 Constitution is the product of the collective wisdom, good will and intentions of men and women whose integrity and credibility are beyond reproach. It contains all the essential provisions that would enable the country in its march toward national development and progress. What is sorely lacking is the political will to pursue to the letter the provisions and stipulations of the 1987 Constitution. A change in the constitution or in the system of governance for that matter is no guarantee for the country to extricate itself from the quagmire of poverty and underdevelopment. What is needed is a complete change of heart and a strong political will to pursue the common good, one that puts prime import the welfare and well being of the Filipino people.
Any move to change the constitution at this time without observing time-tested democratic and participative processes, and without due respect to the genuine interests of the vast majority of our people is construed to be self-serving to the political elites and their foreign masters. Whose interest will Charter Change or a change in the system of government promote among these contending interests:
- The vast majority of the Filipino people who clamor for genuine change and a life in its fullness through genuine land reform and nationalist industrialization?
- The tiny minority of political elites, landed gentry and big businessmen whose interest is to hold on to economic and political power and lord it over the majority?
- The agents of imperialist globalization whose interest is to have an unbridled access to the nation’s resources including 100% ownership of land, utilities, mass media; an overseas base of foreign military troops, and a storage facilities of nuclear weapons, and other warheads and instruments?
The Iglesia Filipina Independiente reiterates, in the strongest possible terms, her opposition to Charter Change for it is not the answer to the present economic, political, social and moral crisis. The grave problems we face today cannot be simply attributed to the ‘flaws’ in the Constitution as the government wants us to believe. They are the outcome of irresponsible governance by leaders whom the people perceive to be with questionable authority, credibility and integrity, and centuries old structures and systems that promote/protect the country’s tiny elite at the expense of the huge majority. Our faith urges us to make a stand – and that is a resounding NO TO CHARTER CHANGE while we commit our continuing support to the Filipino people’s struggle to install a truly democratic government where their interests are truly heard and served. Let us all help in building a nation where people live with dignity and integrity.
Pro Deo et Patria,
† RT REVD EPHRAIM S. FAJUTAGANA
General Secretary
20th February 2006
Obispado Maximo, City of Manila
Obispado Maximo, City of Manila
No comments:
Post a Comment