APL Denounces Evil Twins: ChaCha and the Terror Bill

Workers belonging to the Alliance of Progressive Labor (APL) expressed their concern about maneuverings in the House of Representatives to enact a draconian anti-terrorism bill that will severely curtail civil rights and the people's basic freedoms.

"It's a quid pro quo legislation," said Josua Mata, APL Secretary General. "GMA gets her 'Terror Bill' which will be employed against her opponents while de Venecia will be left to his devices concocting a Chacha initiative which everyone knows is not going to solve the country's problems at this time."

The APL warned that the anti-terrorism bill, up for third and final reading in the House of Representatives "will open the floodgates for Marcosian cruelty and a whole plethora of Constitutional infringements," added Mata. "It is the same thing with the ChaCha which is being pushed through a resolution under the House Committee on Constitutional Amendments."

The APL warned Congress against railroading any amendments to the Constitution, branding it as a political ploy to strengthen the ranks of the elite factions backing up Gloria Arroyo's embattled regime. At the same time it will pave the way for removing the Constitution's provisions on national patrimony.

"With Ramos explicitly demanding a cut in her term and de Venecia obviously keeping his cards close, GMA is dancing the ChaCha tune to keep their loyalties in check," said Mata.

"And in all this time, passing the terror bill and laying the groundwork for a ChaCha have been nothing but a selfish waste of taxpayers' money since they are using the government and its resources to advance their own agendas."

As proof, he said, "an SWS survey from early last year had already said it out loud: people simply do not care about charter change," said Mata, adding "and how could they, in the face of massive poverty and lack of jobs and livelihood."

A May 2005 survey done by the SWS reveals that there is very little support for constitutional change from the Filipino masses. The true initiative for such changes comes from above.

"Nobody is dancing the ChaCha except GMA, Ramos and de Venecia. And to hopefully instill fear in those who oppose their ploy, they will rely on a terror bill to trample on our hard-won rights," explained Mata.

"But workers and the general public cannot be clearer in their demands – we want jobs and not terror wars, we want food on our tables and the realization of our collective rights to fair and decent wages and bargaining abilities, not elite-initiated ChaCha which will only benefit a few."