Leaders of militant groups in Negros Occidental aired varied reasons for their opposition to Charter change at a dialog with House Speaker Jose de Venecia at the Capitol in Bacolod City yesterday, but were one in calling for President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo to resign.

Our having different views is the democratic way, but we are one in the belief that Arroyo must go because she is the biggest problem of the nation, Rodolfo Parreño of the Negros Movement for Moral Regeneration told de Venecia at the dialog arranged by Gov. Joseph Marañon and Vice Governor Isidro Zayco.

A meeting earlier planned between De Venecia and Bacolod Bishop Vicente Navarra, who is opposed to Charter change now, did not take place as the prelate reportedly had to attend a retreat. De Venecia said Arroyo has been the only Philippine president he knows of who has truly pushed for charter change, even if it will mean less powers for her when a parliamentary unicameral form of government is in place.

He told the 10 representatives of militant groups in Negros Occidental present at the dialog that he hopes they keep their doors open and study the reasons for the country's need for Charter change, just as he listened to them, to try to understand their views.

Perhaps we can combine our views to come up with a synthesis for a new Philippines, he said.

Felipe Levy Gelle, Bayan Negros secretary general, told de Venecia they will campaign against his move toward Constitutional change through a Constituent Assembly, and against the no 2007 election proposal.

A change in the Constitution will only worsen the plight of the marginalized if electoral fraud and corruption in government are not addressed first, he said.

Parreño said his group is for changing the Constitution through a Constitutional Convention with delegates elected by the people.

Fred Caña of Karapatan said Charter change should only take place after Arroyo steps down as president, while Alejandro Deoma of Bayan Muna expressed concern that with the shift to a parliamentary form of government partylist representation will be dissolved.

He said government resources of their partylist representatives have not been used to support the New People's Army as alleged. "All our projects that go through local government units can be accounted for," he said.

Richard Sarrosa of the Kilusang Mambubukid ng Pilipinas said he is for a transitional council to run the government once Arroyo is removed from her post.

Allen Mirasol of Anak Pawis said now is not the time to change the Constitution while the nation is faced with a crisis.

Alex Vicera of the National Federation of Sugar Workers stressed the need to uphold the rights of the sugar workers for just wages and said foreign ownership in the Philippines granted Charter change will trigger more plunder and exploitation.

Nita Cherniguin of Gabriela aired concern over women's rights abuses.

De Venecia said it was during his watch that partylist groups gained representation in the House, and said he has provided protection to party solons charged by the Arroyo administration.

He said he has allowed the militant solons to seek refuge in the House to ensure their safety and so they do not go underground, because then they will not be able to attend sessions of congress.

However, he said he has made it clear that no one is above the law and once warrants of arrests are issued for the wanted partylist members, he will have to respect the law.

We need Cha-cha so we can change the presidential form of government introduced into our country by the United States that has not worked, de Venecia said. He pointed out that all the governments in Europe and the successful democracies in Asia all have parliamentary forms of government.

A parliamentary unicameral government would cut the delay in the passage of bills caused by having two houses of congress, will make it cheaper for one to run for office and reduce corruption caused by presidential candidates having to spend so much, de Venecia said.

Under the proposed change, elections of members of parliament will be held every five years, he said.

With less corruption and less red tape in government, he said, the poor will greatly benefit.

After the dialog, about 25 members of the militant groups held a short picket against Cha-cha in front of the Capitol.*CPG

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