MANILA - Interior and Local Government Secretary Ronaldo Puno said Friday that majority of the Lakas-Kampi-CMD members no longer support Charter change (Cha-cha) moves led by House Speaker Prospero Nograles.

Puno told radio dzMM on Friday that party members, particularly local government officials, have asked congressmen to junk the Cha-cha initiatives in the House.

He said a debate took place between congressmen and governors during the most recent party caucus, and it was initially agreed that Lakas-Kampi-CMD members should temporarily end the moves to amend the 1987 Constitution and focus more on how to prepare the newly merged party for the 2010 elections.

The interior secretary said that personally, he does not support Cha-cha because it is hurting their preparations for the elections.

Puno said that in the next party convention, which could be held by late August or early September, he will raise the issue again and urge party members to formally junk the campaign for Cha-cha.

He said he is sure that majority of the party members would agree with him, especially now that one of the Cha-cha advocates, Camarines Sur 2nd District Rep. Luis Villafuerte, has abandoned the newly merged party and has joined the Nationalist People's Coalition (NPC).

Puno's statement followed moves by Cebu Rep. Pablo Garcia to kill House Resolution 1109 (HR 1109) convening Congress into a Constituent assembly (Con-ass), which he co-sponsored.

"Let us put an end to this controversy. The sooner we can put it behind us, the better. Enough is enough. The question is how? Mr. Speaker, there is only one way to do it. And that is by taking some bold positive and decisive action now. Tonight," Garcia said in the first privilege speech delivered since the resumption of session on Monday, hours after President Arroyo's 9th State of the Nation Address.

Cavite Rep. Elpidio Barzaga Jr., also a co-sponsor of the resolution, said Garcia's motion would kill the Charter change resolution. (Read: Garcia: Send Con-ass reso to Senate, pronto)

Garcia had also said that convening Congress into a Con-ass is dangerous for Mrs. Arroyo's administration, citing the protests against Cha-cha and the negative public opinion. (Read: Con-ass co-sponsor says Con-ass dangerous)

“It’s dangerous....People now are demonstrating for no reason or for the wrong reason. The moment we move once step higher and convene a constituent assembly, it will be the 'second envelope',” Garcia said.

He added: “This is going to be an election issue. They will be demonstrating again against the administration saying it is for prolonging the term [of the President]... It will not affect us locally, but nationally, there are people who want this issue alive and hanging."