Quezon City, Philippines, 10 June 2009 - Children and child rights advocates led by the SALINLAHI Alliance for Children’s Concerns joined the throng of protesters in Makati today denouncing the attempt of the Arroyo administration to change the constitution through the CON-ASS. The group believes that this move is intended to perpetuate Arroyo’s power beyond 2010.

According to Ms. Sophia Garduce, Spokesperson for Salinlahi, Mrs. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and her lackeys in Congress have lost their moral authority to rule the government, much less change it into a parliamentary form. “We are dismayed that instead of prioritizing the needs of majority of starving Filipino children who are forced to work and help their parents put food on the table because of widespread unemployment and lay-offs, these pro-Arroyo congressmen outdo each other in trying to protect and “wipe the ass” of a very unpopular President,” Garduce added.

She also said that the CON-ASS is a double-edged sword used only by tyrants and dictators to perpetuate themselves in power to continue their self-serving interests. “Whatever their reason to justify CON-ASS, whether to extend Mrs. Arroyo's term or to introduce changes in the economic provisions, the children will lose a bright future.”

SALINLAHI foresees the CHA-CHA train of Arroyo to have dire consequences on children’s future, particularly the economic provisions that Rep. Prospero Nograles insist as the main intention for changing the constitution. “For children's advocates, this motive is more alarming. Our dream of a vibrant economy should not be realized at the expense of our children’s future. Even the children, when we asked their opinions on this, agree that it is tantamount to giving away their future. Clearly, they understand that Arroyo’s move to change the constitution is self-serving and is a direct denial of their welfare.” Garduce said.

With at least a year before Arroyo’s term ends, the group challenged the administration to abandon the idea of CHA-CHA and focus on children’s welfare. “Instead of spending a lot of time and people’s taxes on ways to perpetuate her power beyond 2010, Mrs. Arroyo should think of ways to erase the 10-15 % percentage of elementary and high school drop-outs and eradicate malnutrition and starvation among children,” challenged Garduce.SALINLAHI called on children, their parents and child rights advocates to act together and thwart this indecent act to yield our sovereignty to ever-deepening foreign domination. The Filipino patrimony is at stake here and it lies in the balance. Let us not bow down to the dark agenda of the incumbent president and watch the doom of our children’s future being etched right into our Constitution. Let us vow to fight any treachery that flagrantly violates all the rights of all the Filipino children,” ended Garduce. ###