Lakas-Kampi rift emerging
Speaker Prospero Nograles, president of Lakas, is no longer as optimistic as before on the planned merger of Lakas and Kabalikat ng Malayang Pilipino (Kampi), saying party leaders seem fated to disagree on many issues.
In a television interview two nights ago, Nograles said he was no longer focused on pursuing the merger of the two pro-administration parties.
Nograles said his current concern is to persuade Lakas and Kampi to support common national and local candidates in the general elections in May 2010.
He hinted that failure on the part of the two parties to support common tickets could mean defeat for many administration candidates.
Lakas was founded by former President Fidel Ramos, while President Arroyo is Kampi’s founder. However, both parties consider Mrs. Arroyo as their principal leader.
The two groups are still in search of a presidential candidate for 2010.
Before Congress adjourned session for the holidays last month, Nograles told reporters that the Lakas-Kampi merger was still on track despite his feud with Kampi president Rep. Luis Villafuerte of Camarines Sur on Charter change (Cha-cha).
He said he was talking to Interior Secretary Ronaldo Puno, who chairs Kampi, and not to Villafuerte, on the merger plan.
Last Dec. 9, while Nograles was out of the country, Villafuerte delivered a privilege speech criticizing his House boss for “putting the cart before the horse” by filing Resolution 737 even before congressmen could resolve what Cha-cha mode to use.
In Resolution 737, the Speaker proposes to amend certain economic provisions of the Constitution to allow foreign ownership of land.
Villafuerte, who drafted a resolution that seeks to convene Congress as a constituent assembly (con-ass) to propose Charter amendments, would have wanted the House to first decide what Cha-cha mode to use – whether it is his proposed con-ass or any other means.
Nograles’ proposed amendments, however, would go through another route – via the usual process of legislation – and not through Villafuerte’s con-ass.
The Nograles route will involve Senate participation, while the Kampi president’s con-ass will bypass senators.
In the 2007 elections, Lakas and Kampi supported separate local candidates, though most party leaders carried a common senatorial slate – President Arroyo’s Team Unity ticket.
The Genuine Opposition clobbered Team Unity. Only three of Mrs. Arroyo’s senatorial candidates – Edgardo Angara, Joker Arroyo and Juan Miguel Zubiri – made it to the Senate.
Some of the defeated candidates blamed the Lakas-Kampi infighting for their defeat, while others said they were collateral damage of the President’s unpopularity.
Tags: charter change, prospero nograles, ronaldo puno, senators
