News Roundup 27 March 2024
Mar 27, 2024 • 4 min Read
Most Filipinos reject Charter change, lifting foreign ownership restrictions | PHILSTAR.COM – MANILA, Philippines — An overwhelming majority of Filipinos oppose changing the 1987 Constitution at this time, according to a new Pulse Asia Survey, with results showing Filipinos in all regions and all socio-economic classes did not support the lifting of foreign ownership restrictions in key industries.
According to private pollster Pulse Asia’s latest survey, a whopping 88% of Filipinos do not support revisions to the Charter at this time, wich dips only slightly for those who are not in favor of Charter change whether now or in the future (74%).
Only 8% said that they believe that the Constitution should be amended now, according to the Pulse Asia survey.
The survey, which gathered 1,200 responses from March 6 to 10, also found that Filipinos are more aware this time about the issue of Charter change compared to last year, but those well-informed about the contents of the Charter itself remains virtually unchanged.
This year, 72% said they have heard of current proposals to change the Charter before answering the survey — higher than last year’s 47%.
Meanwhile, around 75% said they had little or no knowledge about the 1987 Constitution at all — which is “essentially unchanged” from last year’s 79%, according to Pulse Asia.
The survey also found that regardless of socio-economic background, majority of respondents were not in favor of current proposals to lift foreign ownership restrictions in the 1987 Constitution as contained in the House’ and the Senate’s resolutions to amend the Charter.
Full Story at: Most Filipinos reject Charter change, lifting foreign ownership restrictions | Philstar.com
‘Barefaced lie’: Journalists’ groups reject China’s claim of media manipulation | PHILSTAR.COM – MANILA, Philippines — Journalists’ groups strongly on Wednesday condemned Beijing’s accusation that journalists embedded on resupply missions in the West Philippine Sea manipulate their footage to depict Manila as a victim in sea confrontations.
The Foreign Correspondents Association of the Philippines (FOCAP) said it rejects the “false and baseless” claims by Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying that media outlets are made to “manipulate the videos they recorded to make sensational news and project the Philippines as a victim.”
Hua’s post on X also insinuated that the press is a “troublemaker.”
FOCAP called Hua’s accusation a “barefaced lie.”
“A free and independent press reports not what they are told, but what they observe, framed by historical and political context. The footage seen in the press is vetted by multiple sources and newsrooms,” FOCAP said.
The association added that China’s claims are “an insult to the integrity of journalists and an alarming attempt to muzzle an independent press.”
The National Union of Journalists of the Philippines (NUJP) stressed that state forces have no influence on the production and editorial content of reports about incidents in the West Philippine Sea, except for operational and national security considerations.
Full Story at: ‘Barefaced lie’: Journalists’ groups reject China’s claim of media manipulation | Philstar.com
Solons on Filipinos not being pro-Cha-cha: Focus on food prices, salaries | INQUIRER.NET – MANILA, Philippines — Lawmakers from the House of Representatives’ Makabayan bloc believe the Pulse Asia survey showing that many Filipinos are against constitutional amendments should be enough to stop Charter change proposals.
In a statement on Wednesday, ACT Teachers party-list Rep. France Castro said with almost 90 percent of Pulse Asia’s respondents opposing Charter change, the government should just spend more time and resources in addressing pressing problems.
“Sa pamamagitan ng survey na ito ay ipinapakita na halos 90% ng mga Filipino ay ayaw at laban sa Charter change, kaya dapat itigil na ang charter change at ituon ng gobyerno ang oras at resources nito sa pressing problems ng mga Filipino,” Castro said.
(Through this survey, it shows that almost 90% of Filipinos do not want and are against Charter change. That’s why this Charter change should be stopped and the government just put its time and resources into the pressing problems of the Filipino people.)
Kabataan party-list Rep. Raoul Manuel, meanwhile, said the survey only proves that Charter change is not the answer to people’s basic problems like high prices of goods and low salaries.
Full Story at: Solons on Filipinos not being pro-Cha-cha: Focus on food prices, salaries | Inquirer News
BARMM lawmakers mark 10th year anniversary of CAB signing | INQUIRER.NET – MANILA, Philippines — Lawmakers in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) urged the public on Wednesday to remember the efforts of several civic entities who worked to craft the agreement that made way for the creation of the BARMM.
According to Member of Parliament (MP) Amir Mawalil, their sacrifices made way to create the present Bangsamoro region.
“As we remember and reflect on the signing of the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro (CAB) exactly 10 years ago today, we remember the sacrifices made by those who came before us – the blood they shed for the Bangsamoro people to achieve this,” Mawalil said the statement.
The official made the statement on the 10th anniversary of the signing of CAB on March 27.
Meanwhile, MP Rasol Mitmug said that the CAB was proof that peace can be obtained and that the CAB and the Bangsamoro Organic Law made a way to achieve autonomy for the region.
Full Story at: BARMM lawmakers mark 10th year anniversary of CAB signing (inquirer.net)
