Guingona may turn opposition

Vice President Teofisto Guingona Jr. dropped hints yesterday that he might eventually defect to the opposition camp, but would continue serving as vice president.

"It is better to be outside the kulambo (mosquito net)," Guingona told reporters upon arrival in Zamboanga City. He was apparently referring to the administration Lakas-NUCD party led by President Arroyo as chairwoman and titular head.

Guingona, currently national president of Lakas, reiterated his rejection of Malacañang’s offer naming him "Mindanao czar" with specific functions geared for the socio-economic development of southern Philippines.

"I will continue to serve the country in whatever way I can," Guingona added.

"I categorically deny that (report). I categorically deny that I am still part of the Arroyo government," Guingona told oppositors to the controversial Mutual Logistics Support Agreement (MLSA) between the Philippines and the United States on Friday at the Asian Center of the University of the Philippines.

The day before, Press Secretary Ignacio Bunye announced that Guingona had accepted the position of Mindanao czar as offered by the President.

"The Vice President has accepted his appointment, this additional responsibility and we’d like to thank the Vice President for acceding to this appointment," Bunye said.

Guingona argued, however, that Administrative Order (AO) 45 issued by Mrs. Arroyo did not make him czar of Mindanao.

He charged that with Malacañang’s move, he was dealt a double whammy. "I feel like I was struck by lightning twice," he said.

Guingona also pointed out that his alleged appointment as Mindanao czar did not explicitly make him a Cabinet member.".

He also noted that there was nothing in AO 45 that referred to Mindanao. "It’s just that previously, they were offering me in July (the position of) czar of Mindanao as well as another Cabinet position, but neither of which materialized," he said.

Guingona explained that when he stepped down last July 15 as concurrent foreign affairs secretary, said he told the President about the programs he initiated during his tenure.

He added that AO 45 merely expressed support for his projects.

As Mindanao czar, the Vice President would be tasked to "oversee, supervise and implement a number of government programs in the South."

Guingona said that he does not want to be part of a government that pushed for a pact that would drag the Philippines into "never-ending wars (against terrorism)" initiated by the US.

The militant fishermen’s group Pambansang Lakas ng Kilusang Mamamalakaya ng Pilipinas welcomed Guingona’s decision not to accept the post of Mindanao czar.

Pamalakaya national chairman Fernando Hicap said the post was offered to Guingona to silence him on his opposition to the RP-US Mutual Logistics Support Agreement.

There was a fallout between Mrs. Arroyo and Guingona over "policy differences" pertaining the terms of reference of Balikatan O2-1, a joint military training exercise between American and Filipino troops held February to July this year in the strife-torn island province of Basilan.

Guingona’s purported designation as Mindanao czar came a day after he a new group called Bagong Bandila, composed mostly of cause-oriented individuals opposed to the MLSA.

He said he would not accept any new assignment because he wanted flexibility and focus on his Bagong Bandila aimed at empowering marginalized sectors of the society and protecting them from the adverse effects of globalization.

Political analysts said Guingona might eventually transform Bagong Bandila as his own political party. — With Sandy Araneta