DAGUPAN CITY–Thousands of anti-Charte Change advocates through the Constituent Assembly (Con-Ass) mode are expected to air their collective sentiments today (Dec. 15)at the city plaza here against this government-backed initiative in amending the 1987 Constitution as text messages regarding this gathering started to spread acrosss the province inviting concerned people to unite.

One text message sent by City Administrator Rafael Baraan to this corner urged the people to join and show their disgust versus Con-Ass by joining this people's assembly and prayer rally.

"Tama na. Sobra na (Enough. It's too much)," Baraan said.

No less than Mayor Benjamin Lim of this city expressed support to this gathering led by Lingayen-Dagupan Archbishop Oscar Cruz.

Lim is reportedly set to challenge House Speaker Jose de Venecia Jr in his
congressional post in next year's elections. De Venecia is the Chief Architect of the proposed Charter Change in the Philippines.

Lim is expected to mobilize his troops to join the rallyists.

Meanwhile, Cruz again assailed the Philippine Amusement Gaming Corporation
(Pagcor) for "stopping a prayer rally" planned by advocates of Charter change
through Constituent Assembly led by the Catholic Bishops Conference of the
Philippines (CBCP) on Dec. 15 at the Luneta Park.

Cruz said in a statement that "In these turbulent days and disturbing times, Pagcor appears to be altogether at the forefront in
shielding the national leadership and its die-hard allies".

He said this was manifested anew by this government gambling agency against the CBCP scheduled a prayer rally at theLuneta Park as a legitimate expression of dissent to the now infamous “Cha-Cha express” through an aptly called “Con-Ass”. The said gathering was scheduled after several meetings and consultations with many sectors of society, he said.

"Lo and behold, when CBCP representatives were making the usual arrangements with the Luneta officials, they were told that Pagcor already had the place reserved specifically on 15 December 2006," Cruz noted.

" How interesting! How timely! How coincidental!," he said.

He added that Pagcor appears to be the fast emerging lead agency not only in the protection of the present administration, but also in the promotion of government propaganda. Its direct appendage to the office of the national leadership with a staff function could not have been deliberately done for either innocent reason or noble cause, he said.

Cruz said this distinct Pagcor role is neither a secret nor a revelation as this fact seems to have been already long established. It already had a loud official start on the occasion of the 2004 national elections, the prelate said.

He added it is enough to recall the omnipresent street cleaners with their
advertising blue shirts. With the end of the elections, they were also quickly terminated-with some of them not even getting paid after having been
used, he said.

Cruz said it is also said that multi-million Pagcor rake-ins go the intelligence fund of the presidential office. There seems to be the rule and practice that this particular fund is neither open nor subject to accounting, Cruz observed.

" How convenient! Furthermore, it also seems that other multi-million Pagcor
take-ins go to the so called presidential “social fund” whose interpretations and pursuant disbursements are anybody’s guess. How intriguing!," he said.

Cruz also said there is a pending legislative bill categorically forbidding government officials to go to the Pagcor casinos. "If the Philippine Gambling Corporation is that innocent and beneficial, why would such a blunt prohibition be even thought of- proposing it no less than to be made into
law?", he asked.

He added," A corporate promoter of vice is driving away a socio-spiritual gathering. There is always a first time. The present administration has a good record of having many dubious firsts-except in corruption which merely ranked second in Asia," Cruz said.

But despite the postponement of the Dec. 15 Luneta Park rally to Dec. 17., various Church-led prayer rallies will still be held in different parts of the country, including Dagupan City on Dec. 15 as originally planned, according to Cruz.

Cruz has met more than 50 priests under his archdiocese and also the separate
dioceses in the cities of Urdaneta and Alaminos for massive coordination in
their respective areas with various organizations for this prayer rally.The
participants, mostly students from Catholic schools, will start converging at
the St. John The Evangelist Church around 1:00 p.m. Friday and march towards
the city plaza.