Past major rallies vs. charter change

1997 When supporters of then President Fidel Ramos pushed for charter change in 1997, former President Cory Aquino and Jaime Cardinal Sin spearheaded an anti-charter change rally with the support of Catholic bishops.

(Photo courtesy of Archdiocesan Office of Communications / Noli I. Yamsuan)

Joining them onstage at the Quirino Grandstand were then Vice President Joseph Estrada and then senator Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo. 1999 Aquino and Sin led another anti-charter change rally on August 20, 1999 on Ayala Avenue, Makati. This time, Estrada was already the President, as well as the outsider: the protest was against his version of charter change, the Constitutional Correction for Development (CONCORD). Arroyo would also find herself at the receiving end of anti-charter change protests during her term as elected President. 2006 June 2006 Less than a year after President Arroyo batted for charter change in her 2005 State of the Nation Address, administration allies launched a signature campaign for charter change via people initiative. The Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines led an interfaith prayer rally at the Liwasang Bonifacio in Manila in June 2006 to oppose the campaign. CBCP President and Jaro Archbishop Angel Lagdameo also led 2,500 protesters at the Iloilo Capitol grounds. December 2006 Six months later, on December 17, 2006, thousands attended a prayer rally held at the Quirino Grandstand in Rizal Park. The rally was organized amid the House of Representatives' approval of a resolution that called for charter change by constituent assembly. CBCP spearheaded the event; the group issued a pastoral exhortation calling for "a national watch and pray gathering" to express opposition to the "hasty and manipulative way CON-ASS is being pursued". Aquino threw in her support and called on the public to participate in the event. The House of Representatives shelved the assailed resolution a few days before the protest was to take place. President Arroyo likewise delivered a speech conceding that it was not the time for constitutional amendments. "Philippine democracy will always find the proper time and opportunity for Charter reform at a time when the people deem it ripe and needful, and in the manner they deem proper," the President said shortly after the House resolution was sent to the archives. Nevertheless, the organizers pushed through with the rally, which turned up fewer than expected crowds. CBCP President Archbishop Angel Lagdameo called for "character change", saying charter change would be useless without moral change in the country's leaders. 2008 Another anti-charter change rally took place on December 12, 2008 on Ayala Avenue, Makati, again amid moves at the House of Representatives to amend the constitution. Turning up thousands of participants, the event was attended by various religious groups, opposition members, 2010 presidential aspirants, business groups and civil society groups. Estrada was supposed to deliver a speech at the rally but had to skip it to attend to his ailing mother, Doña Mary Ejercito, at the hospital. It was also during this rally when Sen. Mar Roxas used an expletive in his anti-charter change speech: "P***** i**, patayin ang Gloria-Forever Chacha na ito". Source: GMA News Research