OFWs in New Zealand voice opposition to Con-ass

MANILA, Philippines - They may be miles away from home, but even overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) in New Zealand have joined the opposition to the passage of a resolution to amend the Constitution through constituent assembly (Con-ass) by President Arroyo's allies in the House of Representatives last Tuesday. Militant OFW group Migrante's chapter in Aotearoa, New Zealand said its members are very upset with the passage of the House Resolution No. 1170. "It’s time to end rather than further prolong her term. Cha-Cha is her train to get away from being prosecuted from more than nine years of the most scandalous fraud, corruption, human rights violations and failure to grant economic relief for the Filipino people," Migrante-Aotearoa national coordinator Dennis Maga said in an article on the Catholis Bishops' Conference of the Philippines website. He added Cha-Cha is a mockery of Philippine independence and democracy, with nine years of Mrs. Arroyo pushing more Filipinos to desperately seek jobs abroad. Maga said there is no reason for OFWs to support the Cha-Cha agenda that will effectively perpetuate Mrs. Arroyo’s "fraudulent stay in power." "OFWs want regime change and meaningful socio-economic reforms that will benefit jobless Filipinos at home. Arroyo’s allies in Congress again misrepresented the Filipino people and also deserve to be voted out in office," he said. He added Mrs. Arroyo’s record as a notorious human rights violator, and being one of the world’s most corrupt leaders have brought shame to Filipinos working in the Pacific and around the world. In Manila, the militant Student Christian Movement of the Philippines (SCMP) warned the Arroyo government of massive protests over con-ass. “The youth condemns this evil maneuver to the highest level. Cha-Cha was never for the people’s interests, but for the interests of the Arroyo clique," said SCMP chairwoman Cristina Guevarra. SCMP said it will enjoin other religious youth organizations in declaring weeks of June and July as weeks of prayer and action, which will culminate in huge youth protests at Mrs. Arroyo's State of the Nation Address in July. - GMANews.TV