House probe sought over ‘Edsa-pwera’ ad promoting Charter change

MANILA, Philippines — Makabayan bloc lawmakers are eyeing to file a resolution seeking a House probe into a recent political ad that promotes changing the Constitution, Rep. France Castro (ACT Teachers) said.

Castro said on Wednesday that there is a need to scrutinize the source of funding behind the “pro-Charter change ad” aired on television this week.

"Were the funds used for this ad from public coffers or money from foreign interests trying to change our Constitution so that they can own most of our country?” Castro said.

On Tuesday evening, an advertisement criticizing the 1987 Constitution was broadcast across major television networks like GMA, TV5 and ABS-CBN. It repeatedly used the tag-line “na-Edsa-pwera” — a catchphrase spun off of the word “echapwera,” which roughly translates to being set aside or dismissed.

The Charter encouraged monopoly instead of “land ownership of foreign investors" and failed to deliver on its promise of providing quality education, the advertisement said.

The advertisement also criticized the Charter for allegedly benefiting businessmen disproportionately compared to farmers.

During one scene, the narrator of the advertisement said that the Constitution halted the country's development as a banner "GLOBAL INVESTORS NOT ALLOWED" is seen in the background.

A screengrab of the ad shows that Makati-based law firm “Gana Atienza Avisado Law Office” paid for it.

RELATED: 'Ridiculously false': Why Pinoys are calling out the 'Edsa-pwera' political ad

"Using Edsa-pwera as a catch phrase the paid ad also misleads viewers by saying that it was farmers, students and local business men were the ones disadvantaged by the 1987 Constitution,” Castro said. 

“But what the voiceover and the placards are saying is that more foreigners should wholly own land, businesses and even schools in our country," the lawmaker added.

To recall, House Speaker Martin Romualdez said in December that House lawmakers would again push for amendments to the 1987 Constitution and focus on relaxing restrictions that prevent foreign ownership.  

Meanwhile, Rep. Edcel Lagman said the advertisement is “part of the Marcos family’s continuing demonization of the Edsa People’s Power Revolution which ousted the Marcos dictatorship and helped install the “Cory Constitution” or the present 1987 Philippine Constitution.”

“The ad is crudely crafted and there is nothing substantial conveyed in the message,” Lagman added. — Cristina Chi