Guingona wants to be Mindanao czar

If he can’t be a Cabinet member, he wants to at least be a political kingpin in Mindanao.

Vice President Teofisto Guingona Jr., who officially steps down on Monday as foreign affairs secretary, has sounded out overtures of his desire to become the ruling party’s "political czar" in Mindanao in apparent preparation for a sensitive slot in the administration ticket in the 2004 national elections.

Sources in the administration Lakas-NUCD party who asked not to be identified said Guingona wants to be President Arroyo’s running mate in the next presidential polls.

The sources said this was the reason why Guingona had to be sacked as a Cabinet member.

Acting Press Secretary Silvestre Afable reiterated that the ad hoc committee tasked to look for Guingona’s replacement was not given any deadline to accomplish its mission.

For the time being, the President will assume the foreign affairs portfolio in concurrent capacity until a replacement has been found.

"The function basically of the search committee is just to widen the range of choices. It is to look for a range of choices and to recommend persons to the position," Afable said.

Guingona was compelled to yield the foreign affairs post due to policy differences with the Arroyo administration over the deployment of US troops for a joint military training exercise in anti-terrorism warfare in Basilan province and nearby Zamboanga City.

Lakas sources said Guingona sought out the President during a visit to Davao City in an attempt to curry political concessions.

Present at the alleged private meeting were Executive Secretary Alberto Romulo, Speaker Jose de Venecia and some Lakas stalwarts.

Mrs. Arroyo is Lakas-NUCD chairperson with De Venecia as co-chairman, while Guingona is party president.

The Lakas official said Guingona wanted the President to make a public announcement that he was being designated Mindanao czar while his son would be included in the party’s senatorial slate.

"He wants the President to announce that," the source said.

However, Mrs. Arroyo allegedly told Guingona that it was still too early yet to talk about the 2004 elections.

"Party leaders agreed with her on that. Also, this would only tie the hands of the President (to Guingona’s demands)," the Lakas officials said.

They also said Afable did not err in releasing to the press a purported draft of Mrs. Arroyo’s letter accepting Guingona resignation as foreign affairs chief.

A Lakas source confirmed The STAR story that it was Guingona himself who wrote the acceptance letter.

"He (Guingona) told Executive Secretary Bert Romulo and Speaker Joe de Venecia that he gave the draft letter to the President, and that he would incorporate it in his speech that night at the MOPC (Manila Overseas Press Club)," the source said.

But when Afable revealed it to the press, Guingona allegedly retracted his previous statement.

"It was very clear, he obviously set up the President who should really be the one to announce such things as accepting the resignation of a Cabinet member," the Lakas official said.

A few days before the MOPC incident, Guingona reportedly leaked out information that he was being offered by unnamed Lakas leaders the Department of Environment and Natural Resources portfolio, replacing embattled Secretary Heherson Alvarez.–Marichu Villanueva