Catholic bishops during the solemn declaration of the International Shrine of Our Lady of Peace and Good Voyage in Antipolo City, Jan. 26, 2024. ROY LAGARDE
January 31, 2024
Manila, Philippines
“WHAT IS GOOD?”
CBCP Statement about People’s Initiative on Charter Change
Jesus answered, “Why do you call me good? No one is good except God alone. You know the commandments of God…” (Mark 10:18-19)
Beloved People of God,
May we always be guided by the light of the Lord.
Indeed, only God is truly good, as our Lord said! And all become truly good when united with the God of goodness. As Filipinos, we are a blessed nation in countless ways, with bountiful natural resources, very skilled citizens and, above all, God-fearing in character, attitude, and behavior. That is good!
As a nation, we have a Constitution crafted after our peaceful liberation from a dark period in our history. It was created to ensure the well-being of every Filipino citizen. As the former 20th Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, Hilario Davide Jr., said about our Constitution: “…It is the only Constitution that is pro-God, pro-Filipino, pro-People, pro-Poor, pro-Life, pro-Law, pro-Family, pro-Marriage, pro-Human Rights, pro-Women, and pro-Environment…” That is good!
Therefore, any discussion about it is crucial and should not be taken lightly.
Dear brothers and sisters, we are writing to you again regarding the Charter Change:
We are concerned about the reports of signatures gathered across the country for a so-called People’s Initiative. Many could sign for various reasons, but it is clear that their signing is not the result of a careful study and discussion. It seems that this People’s Initiative was initiated by a few public servants and not truly from the initiative of ordinary citizens. If that is the case, it involves deception and disregard for our true and free participation in the democratic process of our country. Is that good?
This is not a simple signature. By signing, you are giving our lawmakers the power to change our Constitution. The discussion may focus on economic aspects, but even senators acknowledge the possibility of broader changes if this People’s Initiative succeeds. Some experts have already pointed out that addressing economic concerns can be done without amending the current Constitution. Many economists and sociologists point out that our Constitution is not the real hindrance to our progress. As the International Trade Administration states, “The Philippines continues to lag among Asia-Pacific peers due to poor infrastructure and a decline in government and business efficiency…” (ITA, January 23, 2024) It seems clear what is not good!
COMELEC has made a decision temporarily dismissing these petitions for the People’s Initiative. However, we should not be complacent, as there may be other attempts for this Charter Change. We will strive to initiate discussions about the Constitution and the issues facing our nation. Our hope is to reflect and decide for the genuine good of all!
Our prayer is that we will not sign or agree to any petition without careful discernment, discussion, and prayer. Let us not allow such deceptive systems to continue, encouraging those who continuously exploit our nation. Truly, this is not good!
May we all be blessed and guided by our Almighty, who is truly good!
+ PABLO VIRGILIO S. DAVID, DD
Bishop of Kaloolan
CBCP President
31 January 2024
“ANO ANG MABUTI?”
Pahayag ng CBCP Tungkol sa People’s Initiative on Charter Change
“Sumagot si Jesus, “Bakit mo ako tinatawag na mabuti? Walang mabuti kundi ang Diyos lamang. Alam mo ang mga utos ng Diyos…” (Mk 10: 18-19)
Nawa’y sumaatin lagi ang liwanag ng Panginoon.
Tunay na Diyos lamang ang Mabuti, wika ng ating Panginoon! At ang lahat ay nagiging tunay na mabuti kapag kaisa ang Diyos ng Kabutihan. Kaya tayong mga Pilipino ay bayang pinagpala ng kabutihan Niya sa napakaraming paraan at dahilan. Mayroon tayong mayamang kalikasan at mga mamamayang likas ang kakayanan at lalo’t higit sa lahat ay maka-Diyos sa ugali, turing at mga gawi. Yan ay mabuti!!
Bilang isang bansa tayo ay mayroong Saligang Batas na nabuo pagkatapos nating makalaya sa mapayapang paraan mula sa isang madilim na panahon sa ating kasaysayan. Ito ay nabuo para ang bawat isang mamayang Pilipino ay mapangalagaan at madala sa tunay na kaunlaran. Ang kanyang kapakanan ang pangunahing nilalaman ng saligang ito. Sabi nga ng dating ika-20 Punong Hukom ng Korte Suprema na si Hilario Davide Jr. patungkol sa ating Saligang Batas: “…Ito ay ang natatanging Saligang Batas na maka-Diyos, maka-Pilipino, maka-Tao, maka-Dukha, maka-Buhay, maka-Batas, maka-Pamilya, maka-Matrimonio, maka-Karapatang Pantao, maka-Kababaihan, at maka-Kalikasan…” Yan ay mabuti!!
Kaya nga’t anumang usapin tungkol dito ay napakahalaga at hindi dapat binabasta-basta lamang.
Mga kapatid, kami ay muling sumulat sa inyo sa usapin ng Charter Change:
Nababahala kami sa mga balita na nagmula na rin sa mga tao na nagkaroon ng mga pagpapapirma sa iba’t-ibang bahagi ng ating bansa, para sa isang tinatawag na People’s Initiative. Marami ang maaaring lumagda na dahil sa napakaraming dahilan, ngunit malinaw na ang inyo o kanilang paglagda ay hindi bunga ng isang masusing pag-aaral at pag-uusap patungkol dito.
Lumalabas na hindi muna ipinaunawa nang maayos sa karamihan ng mga lumagda ang mga tunay na dahilan ng petisyong ito. Ang mistulang People’s Initiative ay isinagawa ng mga ilang lingkod bayan na malinaw ay hindi nagmula sa inisyatiba ng mga karaniwang mamamayan. Kung ganun nga ang nangyari malinaw na may halong panlilinlang ito at pagbabalewala sa tunay at malaya nating kakayanang makiisa sa prosesong demokratiko sa ating bansa. Yan po ba ay mabuti?
Hindi po ito simpleng lagda. Dahil sa inyong paglagda ay binibigyan po ninyo ng kakayahan ang ating mga mambabatas na palitan o baguhin ang ating Saligang Batas. Mababasa ninyo o maririnig na usaping pang-ekonomiya lamang daw ang kanilang hangad baguhin o amyendahan. Ngunit kahit ang mga senador na mga mambabatas din natin ang nagsasabing napakalaking posibilidad na higit pa riyan ang maaaring pakialaman at baguhin kapag nagtagumpay ang People’s Initiative na ito. At kahit ang nabanggit na dahilan na kailangan nating amyendahan ang bahaging ekonomiko para makasabay tayo sa makabagong panahon, sang-ayon na rin sa ilang dalubhasa ay pwede nang gawin nang hindi na kailangan pang baguhin ang kasalukuyang Saligang Batas. Maraming dalubhasa na ang nagsabi na hindi ang Saligang Batas natin ang tunay na humahadlang sa ating pag-unlad. Ayon sa International Trade Administration, “The Philippines continues to lag among Asia-Pacific peers due to poor infrastructure and a decline in government and business efficiency. Investors also repeatedly cite government red tape, regulatory uncertainties, a slow judicial system, inconsistent application of laws by Local Government Units (LGUs), and corruption as challenges to doing business in the country.” (ITA, January 23, 2024) Mukhang malinaw kung alin ang hindi mabuti!
Nagkaroon na nga po ng desisyon ang COMELEC patungkol sa pansamantalang pagbabasura sa mga petisyong ito para sa sinasabing People’s Initiative. Ngunit hindi pa rin po tayo dapat maging kampante dahil malamang magkakaroon pa rin ng mga iba pang tangka para sa Charter Change na ito. Pagsusumikapan po namin sa aming bahagi na makapagbukas ng mga pagpupulong at pagtatalakayan patungkol sa Saligang Batas at mga suliranin ng ating bansa. Hangad po naming makapagnilay po tayo at makapag-desisyon para sa tunay na mabuti para sa lahat!
Ang amin pong dasal ay hindi tayo basta lalagda o papayag sa kahit anong petisyon na hindi muna nating napag-isipan, napag-usapan at napag-dasalan. Huwag po sana nating hayaang magpatuloy ang ganitong mga sistema ng panlilinlang sa ating mga mamamayan na siyang mas nagpapalakas ng loob sa mga nananamantala sa ating bayan. Ito ay tunay na hindi mabuti!
Pagpalain nawa tayong lahat lagi at gabayan ng ating Poong Maykapal na Siyang tunay na mabuti!
+ PABLO VIRGILIO S. DAVID, DD
Obispo ng Kaloolan
Pangulo ng CBCP
Ika-31 ng Enero 2024
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