The new party chairman of the Liberal Party of the Philippines said a resolution of the intra-party dispute between two LP factions will be best resolved before the courts and the Commission on Elections.

Sen. Francis "Kiko" Pangilinan, chosen by the national political council as new party chairman, said he believes the election conducted by the other faction is illegal, contrary to the LP constitution, and therefore void.

Meanwhile, he said, "I'm open for Charter change, but the timing at this point is already suspect."

He was in Dumaguete Saturday as guest at the turnover of command of the Silliman Reserve Officers Training Corps Unit, and in the evening as guest speaker at the 57th graduation exercises of Foundation University.

He also expressed concern about the motives in changing the constitution. As a general rule, it's easy to amend the law but the question is whether this will bring about lasting solutions to problems besetting the nation, eradicate graft and corruption, or will it eliminate already massive illegal logging, smuggling, among others, he said.

Pangilingan said he believes it is not the form of government that we need to change today, but the will of the national leadership to institute reforms.

Meanwhile, he also said, the Supreme Court has ruled in a previous case that there is no enabling law that allows the conduct of a signature campaign, or People's Initiative to amend the Constitution.

Pangilinan stressed that while the Constitution allows people's initiative, it cannot be undertaken in the absence of an enabling law. He pointed out that people's initiative should be to amend provisions of the Constitution and should be aimed at completely overhauling it by shifting from the presidential form to a parliamentary system.

He said the proponents will expect a legal battle ahead, with House Speaker Joe de Venecia's desire to campaign for cha-cha through the people's initiative.

Earlier, a number of local government units were asked to gather signatures for cha-cha even if there were apprehensions that these will be inserted during the barangay assemblies throughout the country.*JG

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