It may be lawful to get a desired number of signatures from the people in order to have our Constitution amended or re-written. But, it is at the least deceptive to call such movement a “people’s initiative” when actually it has been initiated by dubious groups serving as virtual tools of Malacanang or some power-greedy politicians.

        To the ordinary citizens, employed or otherwise, starving or not, such “initiative” remains a puzzle. Why on earth should some so-called leaders insist on having the present bicameral-presidential form of government replaced by a unicameral- parliamentary system, and in so doing spend time and taxpayers’ money that could have otherwise been judiciously spent on more essential government programs that benefit the majority, when all they need to do or have done is making the present system really work?

        Ok, let’s keep the options on amending our Constitution open. But, first let’s exhaust all possible efforts and guts to make our government become truly responsive to the needs of our people rather than to the whims and greed of a wealthy and powerful few.

        We want political stability and do away with social unrest and military coups, we don’t need to change the Charter. We should address the root causes of the problems that have bedeviled this nation. A leadership has legitimacy or credibility questions arising out of alleged electoral frauds and corruption? Transforming itself into another form or name will not help answer those questions. It has to do a lot better than that, like revamping the COMELEC while pursuing with its automation drive, improving our justice system and prosecuting the cheats and scoundrels in our midst. We need a responsible citizens, we educate them – at least to keep them from electing crooks and bums into office- and lead them well by example. Unless and until we have truly impartial and incorruptible electoral body and justice system; unless and until we have morally upright leadership; and unless and until we have well-informed or educated citizenry, it will be asinine to expe

        Act any government, be it presidential or parliamentary, to remain desirable, let alone to succeed.

        The powers-that-be would do well to stop hoodwinking our impoverished constituents into “pushing” for Chacha or something that the latter don’t basically need at this time. Which are, to name but a few, some food on their table, roof on their head, jobs and justice to keep their body and soul intact.

        Our people should not allow themselves to be duped by scheming politicians forever. Not with their brand of “people’s initiative” that they aptly dub as a “political train” that could always go wayward, given the kind of leaders (read crooks and bums) behind its “wheel”. What we do really need is a government’s initiative that will make the present system really work for the betterment of the majority of our people, and not merely to suit the vested interests and insatiable greed of those in power.

MANUEL A. COLLAO, via e-mail.