November 29, 2002, The Philippines Star, Guingona accepts Cabinet post as ' Mindanao czar', by Dona Pazzibugan,

November 29, 2002, The Philippines Star, Guingona accepts Cabinet post as ' Mindanao czar', by Dona Pazzibugan,

A DAY after launching an anti-administration political movement, Vice President Teofisto Guingona Jr., accepted a position in the Cabinet as "Mindanao czar.''

Guingona accepted the appointment under Administrative Order 45, which President Macapagal-Arroyo signed yesterday during a Cabinet meeting.

His appointment though was made effective on Nov. 25. It carries a Cabinet rank.

It was the same offer which Guingona rejected in July, when he resigned as concurrent foreign secretary due to "policy differences'' with Ms Macapagal.

Guingona had since openly criticized the President's policies, particularly her purported pro-United States stance.

This week he said he would ask the Supreme Court to nullify the newly signed RP-US Military Logistics Support Agreement.

Guingona was supposed to have been asked by Malacanang to resign when he opposed the MLSA.

On Wednesday, Guingona revived the political movement Bagong Bandila, which participated in the Edsa I and II revolts.

Press Secretary Ignacio Bunye said the President's offer to Guingona to be Mindanao czar was never withdrawn.

"He has been billed before as the Mindanao czar, so I guess this makes it official,'' he said in a news briefing.

He added that Guingona's criticisms are irrelevant to his new role.

"If he entertains some political beliefs which are slightly different from what we have, well, this is a free country. We do not take that against the Vice President,'' said Bunye.

Team player now?

Asked if Guingona is expected to be a "team player'' now, Bunye said they expected him to "coordinate with the administration'' in the course of overseeing the programs.

Under AO 45, Guingona was given sweeping powers to oversee "socio-economic programs, particularly those involving the development of Mindanao.''

He was also given oversight powers over the Overseas Filipino Investment Bond; the Housing Program for Overseas Filipino Workers and Others; the Seafarer's Welfare Program; and the establishment of an integrated steel plant in Mindanao.

He would get his funding for next year from "available resources'' to be determined by the Department of Budget and Management.

But for the succeeding years, funding would be incorporated in the budget proposal of the Office of the Vice President.

When the title of Mindanao czar was offered to him in July, Guingona complained that the title did not come with funding.

Guingona's appointment came as the President deactivated the Southern Philippines Development Authority (SPDA).

The SPDA was created in 1996 to oversee the development of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao following the signing of a peace pact between the government and the Moro National Liberation Front.

Bunye said the SPDA's deactivation was not related to the creation of Guingona's job.

At the House, three congressmen have filed a resolution calling for a thorough audit and investigation of alleged anomalies in the SPDA.

The SPDA was created through Presidential Decree No. 690 in 1975, as amended by PD 1703, to foster social and economic development in the different southern provinces.

Infighting

Representatives Prospero Pichay Jr., Prospero Nograles and Benasing Macarambon said that since the term of former Administrator Zamzamin Ampatuan to the present SPDA chief Mujahib Hashim, "there has been in-fighting between the board of directors and the administrator" of the Authority.

This bickering, they said, has led to "paralysis in the organization, failure in the delivery of services to various constituents, and non-payment of salaries to the employees for the past four months."

They said charges and countercharges have been hurled regarding "ghost cooperatives, beneficiaries, unauthorized purchases of vehicles, insubordination, etc."

Owing to these issues, the SPDA board passed a resolution stripping the Administrator of all his powers and functions.