On the new Cha-cha bid: it’s God Save the Queen again

AKBAYAN Rep. Risa Hontiveros said that the revival of the administration's revival of the charter change bid means that the survival instinct of the President is once again kicking in, but this time as a response to a threat within her own base.

"The revived Cha-cha call is no doubt diversionary, but what's surprising is that this new attempt is apparently JDV-less," Rep. Hontiveros said. "When the administration pushed for Cha-cha during the 13th Congress, it was meant to tame or abolish an impertinent Senate. Speaker De Venecia supported Cha-cha because he believes that a shift to a parliamentary form of government would benefit his own desire to become a Prime Minister."

"The new attempt is conspicuously JDV-less, however. The stress now is on federalism, a message that, perhaps in addition to the alleged passing of envelopes and bags containing 'Christmas gifts', clearly pleases the local allies of the President," Rep. Hontiveros added.

She said that a JDV-less Cha-cha is unlikely to survive. "The administration would need his support if they truly want to succeed," Rep. Hontiveros said.

She said that the new Cha-cha call is nothing but a spin-off of the proxy war between the President and JDV. "It is not a call for genuine federalism, which should lead to empowerment from below. GMA's cha-cha is meant to consolidate the support of the President's local allies to respond to a threat that emanates from JDV," Rep. Hontiveros said. "She is using federalism as a political insurance against JDV and to get the support of local politicians."

She explained that GMA's version of federalism would devolve elitism and warlordism, but not the empowerment of local communities. "Power would be in the hands of the local elites and it would not strengthen democracy at the grassroots level. It's not meant

The solon vowed that AKBAYAN would oppose the new charter change bid. "This effort is clearly tainted by the President's survival needs. While AKBAYAN supports genuine empowerment at the grassroots level, we don't see the new Cha-cha bid as democratic," Rep. Hontiveros said.