Cha-cha must include people’s participation: CBCP

The Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) on Monday said the people must be included in the process of changing the Constitution. (Photo by Brian Evans/Flickr, CC BY-ND 2.0)

MANILA — The Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) on Monday said the people must be included in the process of changing the Constitution.

“Clearly, a move for Charter change that involves transforming the Congress into a Constituent Assembly is bound to be deficient of widespread peoples’ participation, discussion, and consultation. It would be totally rash for members of Congress to presume the reasoned approval of their constituents on so grave an issue as the move to overhaul the nation’s Charter,” said the CBCP in its “Pastoral Guideline for Discerning the Moral Dimension of the present-day moves for Charter Change”.

With this, they asked the faithful to create groups of discernment to participate, discuss, and debate over the issue of Charter change.

“Have an informed conscience and decide in the light of Gospel values. Do what is necessary. Persuade our legislators to do only what is genuinely for the good of all on this issue of Charter change,” the CBCP added.

The bishops noted that social justice and common good, as basic principles must be utilized in formulating a new Charter.

“Apparently, the intention of some legislators to revise the 1987 Constitution might indeed be the common good. But lack of participation, lack of transparency, as well as perceived promotion of self-interests contravene this intention,” the CBCP said.

At the same time, the group of Roman Catholic Bishops is worried that the fundamental human rights that correspond to Christian values present in the 1987 Constitution may be set aside once it is amended.

“Given present developments and trends in legislation where pro-life principles are even now being undermined, we are deeply concerned that such principles, which are consistent with the fundamental nature of marriage and the family, and which are now enshrined in the 1987 Constitution are most likely to be overturned,” they added.

The CBCP noted that Charter change moves should have total transparency and accountability, clarity and purity of motives and not be self-serving.

“When the move for Charter change becomes self-serving, such as when it calls for ‘No-El’ (no elections) and pushes for an extension of terms of office, it is to be expected that citizens would react with suspicion, astonishment and exasperation. In addition, the feeling of a creeping dictatorship is conjured by past experience,” they added.

Earlier, House Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez said the amendment of the 1987 Constitution, as well as the shift from a unitary to a federal form of government, are the top priorities of the House of Representatives for this year.

The statement was issued at the conclusion of the three-day Plenary Assembly by the bishops held in Cebu.

The bi-annual meeting, which is being held in January and in July, is considered as the highest decision-making body of the CBCP.