Second day of year 2008, and what has the Fortress thrown at us? Chacha (charter change, dummy)!

I admit that our Charter needs some changing, but expect me and others to oppose Chacha. You see, the people at the Fortress are so untrustworthy that hearing the word “chacha” automatically means “beyond 2010” and “Fidel Ramos” for me. The fact that Eduardo Ermita is a known Ramos man adds to the uneasiness. And don’t forget another Chacha dancer named Jose de Venecia.

The reason for Ermita’s comment on Chacha was to facilitate the creation of a Moro federal state, a stumbling block in the peace talks with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front. As I am not well-informed about the Mindanao situation (except for that fact that it hosts some of the poorest provinces, and that it had given us Garcillano, Bedol, and Zubiri), I cannot discuss this topic with enough confidence. However, Chacha is a different story.

Again, Chacha is not that bad. As I have said, some provisions need to be changed or removed. However, there is a general distrust about any moves to amend the Charter. And I can’t blame them. The Fortress has never been forthright on its dealings; it has stonewalled on several issues; it had resorted to dubious means to ensure its hold to power. So it should not be a surprise if people reacts negatively to any Chacha moves this year.

My point is that you can never trust this regime to stick to the Moro federal state as reason for charter change. You can never trust it not to insert provisions that will change the system of government, or to remove term limits, or to remove any impediment for Gloria Arroyo to remain in power beyond 2010. Heck, if you can trust someone who patently and consciously lied, there must be something wrong with you.

In other parts of the world, such distrust would lead to a resignation. Here in the Philippines, you go to hell.

No to Cha-cha this year. No to Cha-cha until Gloria Arroyo is out. Period.