By Joyce Pangco Pa?ares

The Kabalikat ng Malayang Pilipino wants the process of merger with ruling party Lakas Christian Muslim Democrats to begin at the national level.

Interior Secretary Ronaldo Puno, who is also Kampi chairman, said a reverse process might be more feasible since it is hard to convince local leaders of both parties to seal the merger without guidance from the national leaders.

?I think this time, there will be an effort on the national level so at least the local levels will follow instead of the other way around,? Puno said.

?The major problem in all political alliances really is the unification at the local levels and that?s where we?re at right now. There is a very, very clear direction already on the national level so my hunch is that there will be national agreement before there will be a universal local agreement,? he added.

Presidential adviser on political affairs Gabriel Claudio, who is the senior deputy secretary general of Lakas who was tasked by Mrs. Arroyo to oversee the merger, said Puno?s proposal was logical. ?There?s already an agreement to work for a merger and its benefits over a mere coalition are understood, if not accepted by both parties,? Claudio said.

?Details about local disputes can be addressed more easily in the context of being together in one party,? Claudio said.

Last month, Mrs. Arroyo admonished both parties to hasten the merger and ?fight side-by-side? in the 2010 elections.

Lakas and Kampi have already formed an eight-member panel that will thresh out issues on their merger.

Claudio said the panel members for Lakas include Cabinet Secretary Silvestre Bello III (representing Luzon), Iloilo Rep. Art Defensor (Visayas), former Surigao Rep. Prospero Pichay (Mindanao) and Mandaluyong Mayor Benhur Abalos (Metro Manila).

The Kampi panel is composed of Sorsogon Rep. Joey Solis (Luzon), Cebu Rep. Pablo Garcia (Visayas), Surigao del Norte Rep. Francisco Matugas and Manila Rep. Amado Bagatsing (Metro Manila).