Guingona willing to discuss Cha-cha stand

Vice President Teofisto Guingona Jr. said yesterday he was ready to discuss proposed amendments to the Constitution with his Lakas-Christian Muslim Democrat (CMD) partymates but that he will not be swayed from his anti-Charter change stand at this time.

"I will listen to them and I hope they also allow me to attempt to change their mind," he said.

In an interview, Guingona said he would stand his ground, particularly since Charter change proponents in the House of Representatives appear to be attempting to mislead the people that the economic provisions of the Constitution would not be touched.

"I will not be swayed, particularly as the proposal is for the parliament to be given the authority to amend the economic provisions of the Constitution which safeguard our national patrimony," he said.

Guingona said if the country’s natural resources are opened to exploitation and ownership by foreigners and multinational firms, Filipino farmers, fisherfolk, particularly the poor, who comprise 70 percent of the population, would be left with nothing.

During the same interview, Guingona, Lakas president, said he has no intention to resign from the party.

"I have done nothing wrong," he said. "The position I have taken against amending the Constitution through a constituent assembly is anchored on my conviction that this is for the good of the nation."

Guingona said it was not true, as claimed by Charter change proponents, that the proposed constituent assembly would not have the authority to open up the economic provisions of the Constitution.

The constituent assembly, as one of three mechanisms to amend the Constitution, would have the sovereign power to open up any provision, including those that protect our national patrimony, he added.

Guingona said once the constituent assembly takes office, it can legally assert that it is not bound by any restriction to its mandate, even if these are written in the resolution creating the assembly.

Guingona denounced the alleged "insidious attempts to sell out our national patrimony to exploitative foreign interests through proposed amendments to the Constitution.

"Lawmakers should not lift the Constitution’s protective mantle over our national patrimony, which is the national inheritance of our children and our children’s children," he said.

Earlier, Lakas national spokesman Heherson Alvarez assured Guingona that he would not be expelled as party president despite his opposition to Charter change.

But presidential adviser on political affairs Jose Rufino appealed to Guingona to reconsider his stand and abide by the majority Lakas stand.

Guingona had dared his partymates to oust him as Lakas president for his continued opposition to the party’s support for Charter change.

Meanwhile. former education secretary Raul Roco said over radio station dzRH moves to change the Constitution and replace the form of government from presidential to parliamentary is creating confusion in the minds of people.

"If you are playing a game of basketball, you cannot suddenly turn into a football game in the third quarter," he said.

"People would be thrown into a quandary. What I am seeing, specially at a distance, is that there are too many elements who are trying to sow confusion," he said.

Asked if the motive of those who are pushing Charter change is to scrap the 2004 elections, Roco said: "We cannot look into the heart of those who are behind this move, so I cannot say that."

Speaking from Alberta, Canada, Roco was asked by broadcasters Joe Taruc and Deo Macalma about his opinion on moves to change the Constitution and replace the form of government before next year’s elections.

Roco was on his way to the US to attend the Filipino Day celebration in Seattle, Washington.