MANILA, 4 October 2003 — Citing corruption and unfulfilled reform promises, Vice President Teofisto Guingona resigned from the ruling Lakas-CMD party.
His resignation came a day after Senate majority leader Loren Legarda, the Lakas vice president, also quit the party, citing disagreements with partymates.
“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 a letter addressed to President Gloria Arroyo.
He added: “In saying farewell, I bear no personal animosity toward you and the members of our party, most of whom are my longtime cherished friends.”
Despite its civil tone, Guingona’s letter of resignation was an unmistakable attack on the president.
“I respect the decision you announced in December last year that you would not run in the 2004 elections because you would focus on reforms badly needed by the nation,” Guingona said.
“Unfortunately, those reforms have not materialized. The people are bedeviled by corruption which vitally erodes our economy, deepening the poverties of our people,” he said.
Even within the Lakas-CMD, he charged, “there exist personalities accused of graft who continue to hold power, adding to the despair of our people who perceive that our party is not serious about bringing needed reforms.” He did not name names.
Guingona had often been at odds with President Arroyo on key issues.
In July last year, he resigned from his Cabinet post of foreign secretary over differences on allowing American troops conducting war games in the Philippines.
The moves heralded the opening of the May 2004 elections season. Political parties are preparing for conventions to choose their candidates in time for the official lists in December.
Guingona said he has not yet decided whether to run for president. Legarda has already announced her plans to run for vice president, but has not indicated whether she would join another party.
Arroyo, who is party chairwoman, said in December she wouldn’t run, but speculation is rife she may have changed her mind.
The party co-chair, House of Representatives Speaker Jose de Venecia, said Arroyo “has the full support” of the party as its presidential candidate.
A former party president, Guingona was a senator when he was picked by Arroyo as her vice president after she took office in January 2001 following the ouster of former President Joseph Estrada on corruption charges.
Guingona said he opposed moves by some party members to amend the constitution by removing limitations on foreign involvement in exploiting the country’s natural resources. He said he was unsure whether Arroyo supported such a move.
He told reporters that in visits around the country, Filipinos have expressed “despair” and “hopelessness.”
Coalition
Meanwhile, Raul Roco, a popular former education minister who plans to run, said yesterday he hoped to form an coalition with Guingona and Legarda to provide the nation and alternative to Arroyo the other contenders for the presidency.
Roco said yesterday he was asked by “some high officials” to be Arroyo’s running mate, but that he rejected it.
“As I have constantly stated, the Philippines cannot afford six more years of President Gloria Arroyo, and all patriotic Filipinos should bring about a new government in 2004,” Roco said in a statement. “The present government is out of direction, out of hope and out of luck.”
The other declared candidate is Senator Panfilo Lacson, a former national police chief who has accused Arroyo’s husband of stashing away millions of dollars in campaign contributions.
Yet another prospective candidate is businessman Eduardo “Danding” Cojuangco, who had been accused in the past of conspiring with the late dictator Ferdinand Marcos to establish a monopoly in the coconut business.
A survey by local pollster Social Weather Stations in September showed Arroyo in third place with 17 percent, trailing Roco on 20 percent. Noli de Castro, a broadcaster-turned-senator who has yet to announce his intentions, came out top with 28 percent.
‘No Regrets’
Lakas National Executive Director Joey Rufino downplayed the resignations.
With the resignations of Guingona and Legarda, he compared the administration party to a boat “that would float lighter now” and to a tree that has to shed its “deadwood to grow.”
While he said he considered the resignation of Guingona as a “loss” and that the vice president will always have the respect of party members, Rufino said Guingona’s “recent pronouncements go against the grain of the party and of the president.”
“If you don’t like the clothes you are wearing, better to change clothes instead. But this is not good riddance. (We also regret their leaving.) Both of them have their strengths,” Rufino said.
To charges by the opposition that Lakas was already a sinking ship, Rufino said “a boat would only sink if its top heavy. We can float lighter now.” In the same light, he also compared the party to a tree that must lose its “deadwood to grow stronger and higher.”
“We are strengthening our ranks and I would rather have 10 loyal people than 10,000 that you are not sure of,” Rufino said. He also reminded reporters that the party had been through worse. In 1998, Rufino said, the party was divided into three blocs just prior to the elections. “In 1998, despite the defeat of our presidential candidate, the party didn’t sink. (The three blocs were) healthy for democracy.”
“Life goes on. Political personalities come and go but it is the political parties that stay. And Lakas will stay,” Rufino said.
Lakas-CMD executive vice president Feliciano “Sonny” Belmonte, the mayor of Quezon City, will replace Guingona.
Lakas stalwart Senator Robert Z. Barbers said Guingona’s resignation could start an exodus of party mates to the opposition camp. “In any way you look at it, the party will be affected,” said Barbers. “It’s a big loss to the party because of his exemplary leadership, and he’s one of the respected and credible leaders of this country.” (Additional inputs from agencies)
