MANILA, Philippines -- Speaker Prospero Nograles has admitted that a full merger of the ruling Lakas- Christian Muslim Democrats (CMD) and the Kabalikat ng Malayang Pilipino (Kampi, Partner of the Free Filipino) is impossible to achieve because of “local turf wars.”

The merger of the two parties -- President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo chairs Lakas while she is also founder of Kampi) -- was meant to strengthen the administration’s chance of sweeping the 2010 elections.

“I have no illusion of having a hundred percent coalition but I’d be happy with 75 or 85 percent,” Nograles, who is Lakas president, told reporters on Monday. “It doesn’t mean though that if I can’t do a hundred percent merger, I’m a failure.”

Nograles said some areas where a merger of the two parties may not be possible are the Bicol region, and Cebu and Nueva Ecija provinces.

Nevertheless, Nograles said they hope to achieve the merger at least in what he called “less complicated areas.”

Earlier, Nograles said the Lakas-Kampi merger would be completed before President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo delivers her state of the nation address on July 28.

“Hindi kaya. Na-under estimate ko na during recess walang tao [Not possible. I underestimated the fact that there are no people during recess],” he said.