Duterte’s Cha-Cha:

Road to an anti-people
and anti-peasant dictatorship
NNARA-YOUTH
FEBRUARY 2018
Context
•On January 16, the Lower House railroaded
House Concurrent Resolution No. 9 which
transforms the Congress into a constituent
assembly (Con-Ass).
•Senators rejected Congress’ proposal for joint
session and voting. House Speaker Alvarez
rabidly leads the push, threatening to begin with
or without Senate.

•This discussion revolves around the proposals of Congress’

House Committee on Constitutional Amendments, PDP-
Laban’s Draft Federal Constitution, and the proposed
Resolution of Both Houses (RBH) No. 8.
What would Duterte’s cha-cha do?
1. Give Duterte dictatorial powers.
2. Fulfill politicians’ self-serving interests; strengthen
political dynasties.
3. Open the economy and national patrimony to foreign
control and plunder.
4. Remove or water down provisions on democracy, social
justice, human rights, and national sovereignty.
1. Give Duterte
dictatorial powers
Duterte becomes, president,
commander-in-chief, and prime
minister. He would have effective
control over the executive, legislative,
and judiciary.
RBH No.8 even gives him legislative powers.
The terms of officials of constitutional
commissions (like COMELEC, COA, and CSC)
will be cut short, and Duterte will be allowed
to appoint 19 commissioners for each.
Duterte will be given the opportunity to
reorganize the Supreme Court and all lower
courts.
2a. Fulfill politicians’ self-serving interests
Postpone the 2019 elections, extending the terms of incumbent legislators and
all local government officials until 2022 as part of interim parliament and state
commissions, respectively.
Extend the terms of all elective officials into 5 years, and allows up to two
consecutive terms. Duterte himself is allowed to run for president in the 2022
elections.
Constitutionalize pork barrel through PDAF-like annual share of legislators for
infrastructure, medical, educational, and other social services from state and
federal budgets.
 President
Transition under
the State Commission and
Consultative Assembly,
until 2022 elections. Prime
Minister

Parliament
Federal
Senate
Assembly

State of
State of State of State of State of
Metro
Luzon Visayas Mindanao Bangsamoro
Manila
2b. Strengthen
political dynasties
Broaden and deepen the power of
political dynasties.
There will be more spoils to be
distributed among the ruling elites.

Under the neoliberal free market, the

States will compete against each other
and “race to the bottom” in terms of
wages, taxes, prices of land and natural
resources (as we have seen under the
regional wage system).
3. Open the economy and national
patrimony to foreign control and plunder
Delete or dilute nationalist and progressive provisions on the
economy (like self-reliance, independence, comprehensive rural
development, and preference for Filipinos). Replace with narrow
focus on increased/higher productivity.
Remove limits on foreign capital on: the use and exploitation of
natural resources, land ownership, public utilities, education, mass
media and advertising, etc.
Effectively, constitutionalize neoliberalism.
 “…unless otherwise provided by law.”
Art. XII, Sec. 1. x x x The State shall THE GOALS OF THE
promote industrialization and full
employment based on sound
NATIONAL ECONOMY ARE
agricultural development and agrarian A SUSTAINED INCREASE IN
reform, through industries that make THE AMOUNT OF GOODS
full and efficient use of human and AND SERVICES PRODUCED
natural resources, and which are BY THE NATION FOR THE
competitive in both domestic and
BENEFIT OF THE PEOPLE;
foreign markets. However, the State
shall protect Filipino enterprises AN EXPANDING
against unfair foreign competition and PRODUCTIVITY AS THE
trade practices. KEY TO RAISING THE
In the pursuit of these goals, all sectors QUALITY OF LIFE FOR ALL,
of the economy and all regions of the ESPECIALLY THE
country shall be given optimum UNDERPRIVILEGED AND A
opportunity to develop. Private MORE EQUITABLE
enterprises, including corporations, DISTRIBUTION OF
cooperatives, and similar collective
organizations, shall be encouraged to OPPORTUNITIES, INCOME
broaden the base of their ownership. AND WEALTH.
Art. XII, Sec. 2. x x x The State shall
protect the nation's marine wealth in its
archipelagic waters, territorial sea, and
exclusive economic zone, and reserve its
use and enjoyment exclusively to Filipino
citizens.
The Congress may, by law, allow small-
scale utilization of natural resources by
Filipino citizens, as well as cooperative fish
farming, with priority to subsistence
fishermen and fish- workers in rivers, lakes,
bays, and lagoons.
Art. XII, Sec 5. The State, subject to the
provisions of this Constitution and national
development policies and programs, shall
protect the rights of indigenous cultural
communities to their ancestral lands to ensure
their economic, social, and cultural well-
being.

The Congress may provide for the

applicability of customary laws governing
property rights or relations in determining the
ownership and extent of ancestral domain.
4. Remove or water down provisions on democracy,
social justice, human rights, and national sovereignty

Remove workers’ rights to security of tenure, humane working conditions,

living wage, etc.
Remove agrarian reform; recognition of peasant’s right to land and just
distribution of land; and support for small farmers, fishermen, and their
organizations.
Atake sa mga karapatan ng mamamayan
Art. XIII, Sec. 3. The State shall afford full
protection to labor, local and overseas, organized
and unorganized, and promote full employment and
equality of employment opportunities for all.

It shall guarantee the rights of all workers to self-

organization, collective bargaining and negotiations,
and peaceful concerted activities, including the right
to strike in accordance with law. They shall be
entitled to security of tenure, humane conditions of
work, and a living wage. They shall also participate
in policy and decision-making processes affecting
their rights and benefits as may be provided by law.
Replaced to: THE STATE SHALL PROTECT THE RIGHTS OF
LABOR, PROMOTE EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES, AND
PURSUE THE ECONOMIC GOAL OF FULL EMPLOYMENT.
WELL-ESTABLISHED RIGHTS INCLUDE THE RIGHT OF
WORKERS TO SELF-ORGANIZATION, COLLECTIVE
BARGAINING AND NEGOTIATION, AND PEACEFUL
CONCERTED ACTIVITIES, INCLUDING THE RIGHT TO
STRIKE IN ACCORDANCE WITH LAW. WORKERS SHALL
ENJOY EQUITABLE TREATMENT AND FREEDOM FROM
DISCRIMINATION ON MA TTERS OF EMPLOYMENT
TENURE, WORKING CONDITIONS, AND WAGE LEVELS.
THE STATE SHALL REGULA TE WORKER-EMPLOYER RELA
TIONS WITH THE OBJECTIVES OF PROMOTING SHARED
RESPONSIBILITY BETWEEN WORKERS AND EMPLOYERS;
THE PREFENTIAL USE OF VOLUNTARY MODES OF
SETTLING DISPUTES TO PRESERVE INDUSTRIAL PEACE;
AND ACHIEVING ECONOMIC EXPANSION TOWARDS
EMPLOYMENT GROWTH.
Art. XIII, Sec 4. The State shall, by law, undertake an
agrarian reform program founded on the right of
farmers and regular farmworkers who are landless, to
own directly or collectively the lands they till or, in the
case of other farmworkers, to receive a just share of
the fruits thereof. To this end, the State shall encourage
and undertake the just distribution of all agricultural
lands, subject to such priorities and reasonable
retention limits as the Congress may prescribe, taking
into account ecological, developmental, or equity
considerations, and subject to the payment of just
compensation. In determining retention limits, the State
shall respect the right of small landowners. The State
shall further provide incentives for voluntary land-
sharing.
Sec. 5 on support to farmers organizations
Sec. 6 on application of agrarian reform in
other land arrangements
Sec. 7 on support to subsistence fishermen
including protection against foreign intrusion
and just share to fishworkers
Sec. 8 on providing incentives to landowners
to invest in industry, employment creation and
other enterprises
Replaced to: THE STATE SHALL PROMOTE
ECONOMIC EXPANSION, HIGHER
PRODUCTIVITY, AND EQUITABLE
DISTRIBUTION OF THE FRUITS OF
GROWTH IN THE AGRICULTURAL SECTOR,
INCLUDING THE REFORM OF LAND
OWNERSHIP ARRANGEMENTS TO
CORRECT HISTORICAL INJUSTICES AND
REMOVE IMPEDIMENTS TO GROWTH.
What will cha-cha do
to the peasantry?
Even under the current constitution, Filipino
peasants are already severely exploited and
oppressed.
Worsen land use conversion of farms into
commercial lands or foreign-controlled plantations.
Worsen land grabbing and eviction of farmers.
Worsen militarization of peasant communities.
Worsen the violation of human rights and killing of
farmers.
Worsen inaccessibility to subsidies and basic
services of rural poor.
Worsen foreign-dominated economy. Bankrupt
even Filipino businessmen.
What must be done?
Duterte desperately consolidates and
centralizes his powers over all branches of
government, even as his propaganda
machinery reaches millions.
But his cha-cha is fundamentally against the
interests of the Filipino people. Only a very
small, albeit powerful, minority actually
pushes for it.
On the other hand, history has proven the
invincible strength of a people united.
Consolidate the people’s unity
through alliance-building
The Duterte regime’s attacks against the
people (drug war, crackdown, flatten the hills
campaign, TRAIN, etc.) further isolates it.
Unite with everyone possible on the basis of
opposing Duterte’s open fascist dictatorship
through cha-cha (or whatever means).
Engage with various student formations,
teachers, employees, etc., even those outside
the community.
Reach the broadest number of people
through educational and propaganda work
The ruling regime relies too upon its
control of information and influence on
public opinion.
Hold educational discussions, forums,
debates if need be.
Popularize the issue through posters,
video productions, and other creative
and cultural means.
 Express the
people’s will
through mass
mobilizations

The people’s rejection of dictatorship must be visible and loud. As the

Duterte regime further tightens its grip on democratic institutions, the
more mass mobilizations become urgent.
Initiate and participate in protest actions. Maximize institutional venues.
Makibaka!
‘Wag matakot!

Makibaka! ‘Wag matakot!