SENATORS BRACE FOR ANTI-CHA CHA SORTIES IN THE PROVINCES

Senators of different political affiliations will farm out to the provinces after Holy Week to campaign for the rejection of the Charter Change being pushed by the administration and to explain to the people why President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo should step down from office.

Senate Minority Leader Aquilino Nene Q. Pimentel, Jr. (PDP-Laban) said although only five senators showed up at the launching of the anti-Cha Cha and Gloria resign campaign in front of the Senate building on April 5, most of the members of the Senate are involved in this endeavor.

Those who attended the launching of the twin campaign were Senate President Franklin Drilon, and Senators Pimentel, Panfilo Lacson, Jamby Madrigal and Jinggoy Estrada.

Pimentel said the senators have agreed to go around the provinces during the break in congressional session for one month. He said they will split into teams to cover as many areas as possible.

My suggestion is that we do not go together as a group. We should distribute ourselves to as many places as possible so that we can reach out to more people expeditiously, he said.

Pimentel said a group of senators, represented by Majority Leader Francis Pangilinan, is now putting flesh to the general outline of what we will do during the provincial sorties.

Pimentel said although Pangilinan saw no need to add his voice to the clamor for President Arroyos resignation, he will focus on the campaign against the administrations moves to amend the Constitution, either by peoples initiative or by Congress acting as constituent assembly.

He said their position is that Charter Change should not be undertaken while President Arroyo is in office because she is only exploiting this political exercise to divert the peoples attention away from her misdeeds in office, instead of making herself accountable for the same.