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Saturday, October 04, 2003
Guingona follows Loren, bolts Lakas
MANILA -- Is an exodus from the ruling Lakas Christian-Muslim Democrats (Lakas-CMD) taking place?
This is the question asked by many as Vice President Teofisto Guingona, who is also Lakas-CMD president, followed Sen. Loren Legarda's cue and resigned from the administration party last Friday because of differences within Lakas.
The move shocked the party, but Malacaņang remained unfazed at the two consecutive resignations.
In a letter addressed to President Arroyo, Guingona said he decided to leave the party "because of the administration's failure to deliver better service to the Filipino especially to the Muslim brothers in Mindanao".
Quezon City Mayor Feliciano Belmonte assumed the role of acting president of Lakas-CMD.
Unlike Legarda, Guingona said he never consulted anyone on his decision but merely based his move from his own observations and conscience.
"It pains me to write this letter but the moment of truth demands that I tender my resignation from the Lakas-CMD party," Guingona said in his open letter entitled "I resign!"
In an interview, Guingona pointed out he was disappointed over the leadership of President Arroyo - from managing the political system to the fight against graft and corruption.
He said he is leaving the party because the administration remained stiff and allegedly useless in solving the many problems besetting the country.
According to Guingona, the reforms that the President has promised have not materialized and instead, corruption remains rampant in the system.
"I respect the decision you announced in December last year that you would not run in the 2004 election because you would focus on reforms badly needed by the nation. The people are bedeviled by corruption worse compounded, which vitally erodes our economy, deepening the poverty of our people," Guingona said.
Guingona also lamented that "within the party, there are personalities accused of graft but still continue to hold power, which adds despair to the people that the administration is not serious about bringing needed reforms."
However, Guingona clarified that he is not resigning as Vice President and he vowed to continue helping the government's program. He also said that he would not join the opposition and would abstain from running for any position in the May 2004 elections.
"Mrs. President, in saying farewell, I bear no personal animosity toward you and the members of our party, most of who are my long-time cherished friends. I part with the hope, however, that despite the setbacks, the future will still bring us a better tomorrow," Guingona said.
In the Senate, Legarda said she strongly supports Guingona because he has shown a strong sense of nationalism.
She added that Guingona's move is "an epitome of decent and principled decision from an idealistic point of view".
On the other hand, Sen. Robert Barbers, a Lakas member in the Senate, said the party has been affected since his resignation is a big loss.
But he is optimistic that the party would recover from the loss of Guingona and Legarda and that he believes that the reforms will continue for the people.
Meanwhile, Presidential spokesman Ignacio Bunye said Friday that Malacaņang respects the decision of the vice president to resign from Lakas-CMD.
"It is a decision that he alone is responsible for and we respect that decision," Bunye said.
He said Guingona and Legarda have their reasons for choosing to leave the ruling party.
He downplayed Guingona's statement that one of the reasons for his resignation is policy differences with President Arroyo.
"We cannot always have 100 percent agreement with all the members of the Cabinet and we know for a fact that is precisely the reason the vice president tendered his resignation as a member of the Cabinet, because of some policy differences. The vice president is just sticking to what he believes is correct. And as what we said earlier, we respect his decision," he said.
He said there is no reason for Arroyo to regret her choice of Guingona as Vvce president since it seemed like the best decision in 2001.
As to whether Guingona's resignation would worsen the rift between him and Arroyo, he said, "The relationship between the President and the Vice President has been very professional. So we don't see anything that will mar that existing relationship."
In the case of Legarda, Bunye said Senate President Franklin Drilon will keep his hold on the Senate, adding that supposed realignments or reorganizations are internal affairs of the Senate.
Former President Fidel Ramos, Lakas founding member and chairman emeritus, said in a statement from Davao that he was saddened by Guingona's resignation.
"Vice President Guingona is a man of principle and I in particular respect his decision and wish him well in all his future endeavors. I am sure that his resignation may have been brought by the need to pursue his own vision outside of the ruling party," Ramos.
He said despite the resignations of Guingona and Legarda, Lakas-CMD remains strong because "the party is anchored on its mission to serve God by serving our country and our people."
Jose Maria Rufino, Lakas executive director, said Guingona's policy differences with Arroyo "is not a secret" and wished him well.
He said Quezon City mayor Feliciano Belmonte Jr., Lakas executive vice president, would be acting president until the ruling party elects a new set of officers.
Rufino told ABS-CBN News Channel that the resignations do not mean that Lakas is weakening, but merely undergoing a "natural cleansing process", further saying the party is "larger than any personality".
"I'd rather have 10 loyal followers than 10,000 followers that I'm not sure about. We have more party members who support PGMA. Those who believe in the President should stick with the President and those who have doubts about this administration are free to chart their own courses," he said.
He said now, Lakas can be a "real, honest-to-goodness political party" and that "I think now we stick together through thick and thin."
He said Guingona and Legarda should not have pre-empted Arroyo by giving statements that they also resigned because Arroyo will run in 2004.
"I think she deserves more respect. For all you know, she might announce that 'I'm not running'. For all you know, she may announce she is running... If you find that untenable then that is perfectly fine but to jump the gun or to preempt I think in any language that is disagreeable," he said.
Rufino also said in a separate radio interview that the Lakas leadership will kick out the group of Negros Oriental Rep. Jacinto Paras, who is supporting Nationalist People's Coalition chair Eduardo Cojuangco, during the party's national directorate meeting on Oct. 7 instead of waiting for them to resign.
He said if Paras' group is no longer happy with the Lakas party leader, which is Arroyo, then there is no reason for them to remain in the ruling party.
Heherson Alvarez Jr., Lakas spokesman and vice president for Luzon, said Lakas is not going to pieces because those who resigned have not joined the opposition. He said Legarda's resignation is part of the strategy of a "political star".
Norberto Gonzalez, presidential adviser on special concerns, said Legarda may just be preparing for a shift to the parliamentary system, where Arroyo will serve a three-year term as transition president. JPM/ST
(October 4, 2003 issue)
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