Caloocan Bishop Deogracias Iniguez clarified that the Friday’s statement of the CBCP should not be interpreted as siding with the opposition or any group since the bishops only expressed what they think and see.

It just so happens, he said, that "may mga aspects na tulad ng nakikita ng iba," referring to the recent CBCP statement signed by its President Archbishop Angel Lagdameo in which the latter spoke of bishops alarm over the government endorsed signature campaign. He said the bishops were alarmed because the signatures collected in the campaign were done without adequate information, discussion and education.

"The manner in which these signatures are supposedly collected, including door to door campaigns, are not conducive to the kind of informed participation that such fundamental changes demand. The changes that are being proposed for signatures of citizens are dangerously unclear and open to manipulation by groups with self-serving interests. The complexities and variations of the parliamentary system are not adequately explained and have not been sufficiently discussed by our people," the statement said.

The CBCP also questioned the lack of clarity on how the changes will truly benefit the nation and the people. "It seems that the changes as they are being proposed now will benefit mainly those who already hold positions of power and privilege in the current political system. This raises questions as to the authenticity of this signature campaign and the motives of those who promote it," the statement said, asking "is this truly a people’s initiative or the initiative of self-seeking political players wanting to entrench themselves in power?

A known critic of the administration, Archbishop Oscar Cruz, agreed with the clarification made by Iniguez.

"The CBCP sides with what is right, true and just without considering who is happy with it or not," Cruz said.

The Lingayen-Dagupan prelate, however, warned the administration of a huge socio-political chaos if it will still continue to push for Cha-cha through people’s initiave. "If ever such a dubious initiative were successful and in the event that the questionable charter change become a reality, one thing become rather certain and certifiable: the country would undergo one big socio-political upheaval – which is neither welcome, must less amusing," he said.

The reason for this, he said, is that the opposition, institutions, organizations and movements including all their followers and sympathizers would not take such an initiative and change lying down. "If they are now inflamed by the many charges and different accusations against the administration, it could be well expected that they would be the more incensed by the actuality of a change in the charter of the nation – for dubious reason," the archbishop said.

"The above is neither a threat much less a condemnation of the opted over-all plan and particular projects of the present administration to keep itself in power and might. It is a plain and simple warning what the same administration