Merger given one last push, Cha-cha still a go

Lakas, Kampi chiefs quit

By Charlie V. Manalo

04/14/2009

The presidents of the two biggest political parties in the country, the Lakas-CMD and the Kabalikat ng Malayang Pilipino (Kampi) yesterday announced their resignation as presidents of their respective parties, setting the stage for the final push of the merger of the two political parties in preparation for the 2010 national elections.

In a press conference, Speaker Prospero Nograles and Camarines Sur Rep. Luis Villafuerte, presidents of Lakas and Kampi respectively, declared that with their resignation, they are giving President Arroyo “a free hand in determining the appropriate leadership structure for the prospective consolidated party.”

The merger is also seen to negate the earlier Fidel Ramos led Lakas directorate junking the

Charter change move in Congress as a merged party will leave out the decision of Ramos and the party directorate.

Presidential political adviser Gabriel Claudio, chairman of the National Union For Consolidation (NUC) yesterday said the merger of Lakas and Kampi will push through and that the elections, contrary to the innuendos of the opposition, will also push through.

“Their own consultations with the respective party members clearly support the merger,” Claudio said in a statement.”Within the coalition and outside the coalition, it is a welcome development because it signifies the sincerity that there will be a merger, and that there will be elections. Not only are that they are presidents of Lakas and Kampi but they are also the most visible proponents of the resolutions on Charter change,” Claudio said.

Malacañang also said it is leaving to the House of Representatives to push through its debate on the Cha-cha.

Presidential deputy spokesman Lorelei Fajardo said the Executive Branch will be awaiting the result of the Plenary deliberating on Cha-cha. “The Speaker has assured the public that the House will be tackling only the economic provisions (on the proposed Cha-cha),” she said.

Earlier, radio reports quoted the former president, Joseph Estrada stating he would lead the anti Cha-cha moves. Fajardo said the Speaker has committed to the public that it will be the people who will have the final decision in amending the Constitution.

The Palace asked Estrada to be responsible in issuing statements to the public as well as advice and guide the public that the Charter Change will be decided by the people.

Fajardo also noted that the Palace cannot act as judge for the lawmakers on what provisions of the Constitution will be amended.

The Palace also called on sectors to be vigilant, but stressed there is no need for protest actions since the country is currently battling to survive the global economic crisis.

“We will have to study, calculate our moves on this proposed Charter change. The President and elected leaders will listen to the sentiments of the people,” Fajardo said, stressing that Malacañang “cannot presume what provisions will be pushed for by the Congress.”

Nograles and Villafuerte said their resignations will also pave the way to fast-track the unification process.

“As leaders of the Lakas-Christian Muslim Democrats and the Kabalikat ng Malayang Pilipino, we recognize the need for the political coalition of the administration to hasten preparations for the 2010 elections,” the two lawmakers said in a joint statement.

“We subscribe to the belief that a political merger between the two biggest political parties of the country is the key to the administration’s victory in next year’s polls,” their joint statement read.

The two leaders added that a nine-man panel was created to form the NUC committee, with Nograles saying that the committee will take charge of ironing out remaining kinks in the merger bid particularly settling differences among local members.

Both parties are giving themselves 45 days to finish the unification move.

“We will have to iron out the kinks in the local level, because it is difficult to win. We have learned our lessons in 2007 when squabbles in the local level affected our national candidates,” Nograles said.

Named by Lakas to the committee are Mandaluyong City Mayor Benhur Abalos; former Justice Secretary Silvestre Bello, Majority Leader Arthur Defensor and Local Water Utilities Administration General Manager Prospero Pichay.

Kampi will be represented by the following: Manila Rep. Amado Bagatsing; Sorsogon Rep. Jose Solis, Cebu Rep. Pablo Garcia and Surigao del Norte Rep. Francisco Matugas.

“The emphasis of our joint statement is that both Lakas and Kampi are now in the electoral preparations mode of the forthcoming 2010 elections and we have clearly stated that we support the President’s call for credible, honest automated elections in 2010,” Villafuerte said.

He also stressed they are giving the committee reasonable time to resolve the local conflicts in order for a single candidate to be fielded in each local jurisdiction.

“The only way to do so is give the President a free hand and vote of confidence in order that process we will hold will unburden us of compromises,” said Villarreal.

Villafuerte himself is facing problems in local politics in his district. The lawmaker and his son, Camarines Sur Gov. El Ray Villarreal of Lakas-CMD, are reportedly at odds with each other and have vowed to field their respective candidates in the local elections.

It was also admitted that the announcement of the shortlist of presidential candidates to be fielded by Lakas will be delayed as a result of the merger.

In a closed door meeting late last month, the Lakas-CMD executive committee listed Vice President Noli de Castro and Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro as two of three presidential nominees.

A third candidate was supposed to be a toss up between Senators Manuel Villar of the Nacionalista Party and Francis Escudero of Nationalist People’s Coalition.

Meanwhile, the proponents of the Constitutional assembly finally admitted the real intent of the still-to-be-filed resolution seeking the convening of Congress into a Con-ass is to finally settle the constitutional provision on amendment by creating a justiciable controversy wherein the Supreme Court (SC) can finally step in for a legal interpretation.

Nograles and Villafuerte stressed that the groundwork for Charter amendments will be laid but only to serve as a triggering mechanism that would make the SC rule on controversies affecting the Charter amendments.

“We tried this (amend the Charter) in the past and we can never agree. So we need a referee and the Supreme Court is the only one that can really say how Congress can amend the Constitution. We can debate for hours about it but we cannot resolve this without the Supreme Court ruling,” said Nograles.

Villafuerte disclosed he would be filing soon the still unnumbered resolution that has reportedly gathered at least 175 supporters among House members.

The resolution calls on Congress members to convene for the “purpose of considering proposals to amend or revise the Constitution, upon a vote of three fourths of all members of Congress.

Villafuerte explained that the only act called for by the resolution is to convene and not yet to act on specific amendments to the Charter.

“The objective is to trigger an issue that can be brought before the Supreme Court,” said Villarreal.

Nograles and Villafuerte explained that with an SC ruling a clear prerequisite to the introduction of specific amendments to the Constitution, there may no longer be enough time to complete the revision process and plebiscite before the May 2010 elections.

“As a matter of reality, amendments cannot be made during the 2010 elections,” said Villafuerte.

The two Arroyo allies also made clear that the proposed merger of their parties has nothing to do with the move to amend the Constitution.

They also assailed efforts of the opposition to link the Charter change with the merger of Lakas and CMD, saying that these twin moves are contradictory.

Nograles pointed out that the merger is designed to prepare Arroyo allies for the 2010 elections.

“Sad to say there has been many distortions and twisting, when in truth or in fact my resolution has not proposed any specific amendment to the constitution. My objective is that it is a resolution calling for the convening of a Constituent assembly as a requisite before any amendments can be acted upon” said Villafuerte.

“There is no basis for suggesting or implying that the proposed Cha-cha will scrap the 2010 elections,” said Villafuerte.

Despite the determined push for Charter change, Nograles assured they will consult all House members before making any decision on issues related to constitutional amendment.

More than 200 farmers started their camp-out at the gates of the House of Representatives opposing attempts to overhaul the 1987 Constitution and pushed the enactment of a new and genuine agrarian reform.

“Repeated lies coming from the proponents of Charter change cannot deceive and hold back the people’s opposition against Mrs. Arroyo’s term extension. This peasants’ camp out will last up to Congress’ sine die adjournment in June,” vowed Anakpawis party-list Representative and Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas chair Rafael Mariano. With Riza Recio

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