Camarines Sur 2nd District Rep. Luis Villafuerte on Monday formally withdrew his support for Charter change (Cha-cha) by "irrevocably" withdrawing his signature from House Resolution 1109.

"If Cha-cha is already on the verge of dying, let us not prolong the agony. Any last-ditch heroic effort will be a futile exercise," Villafuerte, who is also the president of Kabalikat ng Mamamayang Pilipino (KAMPI), said in a press briefing.

"Let if be of record, therefore, that I am withdrawing my support directly or indirectly to any form of Cha-cha in this 14th Congress, and my signature on Resolution 1109 is hereby irrevocably withdrawn," he said.

House Resolution 1109, which Villafuerte authored, seeks to convene Congress into a Constituent Assembly even without the concurrence of the Senate, which is opposed to this mode of charter change. Villafuerte's resolution was filed by House Speaker Prospero Nograles on April 22.

Dillydallying

Villafuerte also attacked Nograles for "dilly-dallying" on Cha-cha.

"My principal misgiving is the leader of the House doesn't know where he wants to lead us. He keeps shifting. He never finishes anything. I'm actually disgusted with it all. I don't understand what he stands for," he told reporters.

"What kind of management is that. This is not a serious effort," he added.

Villafuerte also did not appreciate Nograles's recent statement that the House is opening up to Constitutional Convention (Con-Con) as "Plan B" for Cha-cha because some congressmen supposedly feel there is no more time for a Constituent Assembly (Con-Ass).

Villafuerte said he will withdraw his signature from the resolution on Tuesday's hearing of the House committee on constitutional amendments.

He also criticized Nograles for pushing House Resolution 737 instead.

"I proposed HR 1109 as the only possible formula, subject to the clarification of the Supreme Court. After signing, he held on to the document and never did anything until April 22," Villafuerte said.

Villafuerte started collecting signatures in 2008, but Nograles only filed it on April 22.

Fourth mode

Nograles's resolution, HR 737, seeks to open up the Philippine economy to foreign investors by lifting ownership restrictions in the charter. He wants to amend the charter through the normal legislative route, which means sending the resolution to the Senate once it is passed with the hope that the Senate approves it also.

Villafuerte has argued that this mode is unconstitutional and should be abandoned.

The Constitution only provides for three modes of amending the charter--Constituent Assembly, Constitutional Convention, and people's  initiative.

Asked if he felt betrayed by Nograles, Villafuerte said, "you may call it that."

"To be truthful about it, there are elements of mistrust," he added.

Focus on other things

Asked if fellow KAMPI solons will follow suit, Villafuerte said they are going to have a meeting this week.

"Congress should now drop Cha-Cha, and re-orient its agenda, and prioritize the approval of pending legislation of national importance," Villafuerte said.

Villafuerte said he will now oppose all Charter change initiatives, including Con-Con.

"This new dance craze called Con-Con that is being peddled in the House of Representatives, which Speaker Nograles described as Plan B, should also be opposed as being unwise and impractical at this time because the superimposition of the election of delegates to the Constitutional Convention concurrently with the election of national and local candidates in the May 2010 general elections will overburden the Comelec that is already having extreme difficulties pushing for the implementation of the automation of elections," he said.

Difference of opinion

Meanwhile, Nograles said Villafuerte's criticisms are not "personal," but a "difference in legal opinion." He said he cannot tell yet how this development will affect the Cha-cha initiatives in the lower House.

Nograles wants the Cha-cha resolutions voted on the floor before Congress adjourns sine die on June 3, or just eight session days from Monday.

"Rep. Luis Villafuerte and I have so many differences of opinion on so many things, and that's why I would want the issues voted on the floor because it's like an irresistible force against an immovable object. He thinks I'm wrong, I think I'm right," he said.

Nograles reiterated that he will still push for House Resolution 737.

"Rep. Arthur Defensor, the majority leader and chair of House rules has decided that my Cha-cha resolution, 737, will follow the House rules, which state that any amendment proposal must follow the legislative route. That is found in our House rules approved by all the members since the 8th Congress again, and again in every Congress till now," Nograles said.

"Mahirap kasi makipag-debate. He is citing jurisprudence. If it is out there on the floor, then we can vote on it. Kung kami lang dalawa, walang mananalo. I'd like to throw this on the floor and let them decide which mode is correct," he added.