Chatto, Jala for Con-ass; Cajes voted for Concon

…but no Chacha for ULAP, LPP

THE Union of Local Authorities of the Philippines (ULAP) and the League of Provinces of the Philippines (LPP) will not dance the Chacha anymore. The stand is contained in a press statement Bohol Gov. Erico Aumentado issued yesterday. “ULAP and LPP are in unison with President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo's decision to stop any move for Constitutional change (Chacha) including the calling for a Constitutional convention (Con-con),” he said.

The President's decision is undoubtedly the hallmark of her statesmanship and sensitiveness to the sentiments of the Filipino people. This is a commendable action of the Chief Executive of the land, he observed. “With this development, we urge all sectors of society to unite and work for reconciliation – to push the Philippines forward. It is our obligation to our people that we must now focus on our economic and political stability. Together, with God helping, we can attain our goals,” Aumentado said. He also asked all sectors “to unite for our country and people, and heal the wounds that divide the nation in the call for Charter change.”

Yesterday's statement supersedes the one he issued earlier in the week supporting Con-con, with the delegates to be elected together with the senators, congressmen, governors and other local officials to save on the cost of a separate process. The Con-con was supposed to be the win-win solution to Cha-cha as the Supreme Court junked the people's initiative mode that ULAP, LPP and Sigaw ng Bayan pushed even as Congress also scuttled a Constitutional assembly (Con-ass).

In that statement, Aumentado had also asked the Catholic Church, the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines , El Shaddai, Jesus is Lord and other groups to call off their planned nationwide massive prayer rally against Con-ass on Dec. 15. After all, he reasoned out, the Con-ass has been dropped. Following his meeting Friday with the President however, the known stanch Presidential ally agreed to defer Chacha that has reared its ugly head to wedge a huge divide between pro- and anti-Chacha supporters. “It is Christmas – the time for reconciliation and unity. Let us drop divisiveness; let us open our hearts instead so that together we can push this country forward,” he said.

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