Alyansa Tigil Mina extends its solidarity with church groups and people’s organizations marching today to protest proposals for charter change as well as to celebrate the 38th anniversary of the People Power Revolution.

Like many other groups under Koalisyon Laban sa ChaCha: Simbahan at Komunidad Laban Sa ChaCha (SiKLab), we believe that our 1987 Constitution is among the best in the world considering its very strong social justice provisions and protectionist principles.

Drafted in the aftermath of the EDSA Revolution, the 1987 Constitution also provides safeguards to prevent another long-running dictatorship. It ensures proper checks and balances among the three branches of government – the Executive, the Legislature and the Judiciary.

Far from being highly flawed or inadequate, the 1987 Constitution is responsive to current economic and social conditions. We maintain that there is no need to tamper with the fundamental law of the land.

In fact, changing the Constitution poses great risks to the country.

First, allowing full foreign ownership of our public utilities, our land and our natural resources is practically surrendering our sovereignty to exploitative foreign corporations. Motivated primarily by profits, these foreign corporations will have no qualms about destroying the environment and violating human rights.

The country’s experience in the mining industry, where 100% foreign ownership of minerals is allowed, illustrates the negative impact of opening up our natural resources to full foreign ownership. Already, many mining-affected communities suffer from the devastation, conflicts and ill health caused by large-scale mining.

Second, charter change provides incumbent politicians with an opportunity to introduce unnecessary political reforms and lift term limits.

We suspect that the primary agenda behind charter change is political in nature. It particularly involves either a change in the form of government or the extension of the terms of office of incumbent government officials.

Truth is, our government leaders desperately want to cling to power under the guise of changing the economic provisions of the charter.

For these reasons alone, we demand that the government drop all charter change proposals and instead focus on providing food, land and jobs, fulfilling the human rights of the people, and protecting the environment.

Furthermore, we call on the Filipino people to stand with us as we persist in our fight against charter change. Bearing in mind the spirit behind the People Power Revolution, let us protect the 1987 Constitution.

Reject ChaCha, Celebrate EDSA!

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