Rep. Edcel C. Lagman cautioned the proponents of charter change “to recognize the limits of power and not to try the people’s tolerance.”

Lagman asked his colleagues in the majority coalition “to read the writing on the wall against pursuing constitutional change now” even as he urged President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo “to halt the cha-cha express which is bound to perdition.”

“I have not signed and will not sign any bill or resolution for cha-cha before the 2010 elections,” Lagman said.

“Any proposal for a constitutional amendment in 2009 is too late in the day and will only engender grave suspicions on ahidden agenda and provoke inordinately divisive popular opposition,” Lagman added.

Lagman also said that even as he belongs to the majority coalition, he “cannot keep (his) peace in the case of an impending turmoil being fomented by cha-cha initiatives.”