Statement of the 29th Convention of the Diocese of Surigao, Iglesia Filipina Independiente
“Learn to do right; seek justice. Defend the oppressed. Take up the cause of the fatherless; plead the case of the widow.” – Isaiah 1:17
We, in the Diocese of Surigao of the Iglesia Filipina Independiente, stand firm in our commitment to uphold the principles of democracy, justice, and the well-being of the Filipino people. As faithful stewards of our nation’s spiritual and social welfare, we voice out our strong opposition to the proposed Charter Change, particularly on Article 17 Section 1 of the 1987 Constitution, initiated by the House of Representatives through the controversial People’s Initiative.
We believe that this amendment grants significant power to our legislators in the House of Representatives through a method that may compromise the integrity of our long-honored democracy and of check and balance mechanism embedded in our government structures. Allowing members of Congress to jointly vote on proposed laws in a constitutional assembly, where the House of Representatives holds a numerical advantage over the Senate, risks undermining the balance of power and fostering partisan agenda at the expense of the common good. Worse of all, it may open the floodgates of unrestrained amendments that shall miniscule if not vaporize the remaining nationalist, patriotic, and democratic provisions of the 1987 Constitution and magnify and replace them with anti-people, anti-poor, anti-Filipino, and anti-peace policies.
We recognize the grave implications of Charter Change pursued purposely for political interests in the guise of economic agenda. Such maneuvers risk destabilizing our democratic institutions, eroding the check and balance vital for accountable governance, and diluting the voice of the Filipino people in matters of national importance. The use of economic agenda to camouflage partisan interests of traditional politicians sitting in power is a treacherous machination to deceive the public that at fault in our economic woes and underdevelopment is the national charter of the land rather than the incompetence, greediness and corruptive governance of those who are in the government particularly the national leaders. These are our government leaders and officials who want to perpetuate themselves in power and at the same time sell-out the patrimony of our land to their foreign principals who can now enjoy 100% of capital holding on any investment and property including our basic social services, and who can, in turn, feed their insatiable greed for the longest time.
As a Church deeply rooted in the values of justice, equity, and social responsibility, we remain vigilant in safeguarding the democratic principles enshrined in our Constitution and stand in solidarity with the Filipino people who seek genuine progress, justice, and equitable governance for our nation. As a Church we advocate for transparent and participatory processes that honor the voices of all sectors of society, especially the marginalized and underrepresented.
We therefore call upon all Filipino people to critically examine the motives behind the proposed amendment in the mask of People’s Initiative and in the guise of Economic Agenda.
We urge our leaders to stop this unfettered partisan agenda for personal and political interests, instead prioritize the common good of our people as we chart the course of our nation’s bright future in the reign of genuine peace, social justice, defense of human rights and national sovereignty and independence for total human development and full human dignity of every Filipino.
Rather than preoccupying themselves with Charter Change, we ask our government leaders to address the issues of hunger and poverty, joblessness and homelessness, extrajudicial killings and red-tagging. In the words of the great Senator Jose Diokno, we demand that they busy themselves with providing “foods and freedom, jobs and justice” for our people.
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Presented by the Committee on Statement and adopted at the Ninth and Last Session of the 29th Convention of the Diocese of Surigao, Iglesia Filipina Independiente, held on February 22-24, 2024 in Placer Parish, Placer, Surigao del Norte, Philippines.
THE REVD CLYDE U. CATUBURAN
Diocesan Secretary
THE MOST REVD RHEE M. TIMBANG
IFI Bishop of Surigao
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