Project BANTAY of the Beautiful Heart Foundation, Inc.

To The Youth Of The Land by Senator Aquilino Q. Pimentel, Jr.

The Rule of Law is being crucified in the country today. People in high places in government do things without any legal basis. In a democracy, government officials can only do things that are authorized by law. Without law, what they do is illegal and ultimately unconstitutional.

The President, the Speaker of the House, the Secretary-designate of the DILG and their allies in Comelec are gathering signatures for Charter Change in a so-called People's Initiative.The People's Initiative to change the Constitution needs a law to make it legal. There is no law that authorizes it now. The old law (Republic Act No. 6735) was declared inadequate by the Supreme Court as basis for the holding of a People's Initiative.

Hence, no matter how many signatories they gather, those will have no legal - and much less constitutional - effect. That is why you, the youth of the land should demand that those responsible end the charade that they are foisting on our people. Your personal future and the democratic future of the country are at stake.

If you do not wish to take to the streets, use other forums available to you: the media, the Internet, student publications, youth gatherings, graffiti, anything innovatively legal to get your message across. And the message is simple: Nobody - including the President, the Speaker of the House and the DILG secretary-designate - is above the law. Everybody must follow the law and respect the Constitution. Without the Rule of Law, the Rule of the Gun would prevail.

As Rizal pointed out, you are the hope of the Fatherland. Act now before it is too late.