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EVENTS being what they are, Vice-President Noli de Castro said he
was prepared to assume the duties of the presidency in an
eventuality, but is not actively preparing for a takeover.
The distinction is important because while de
Castro feels he is qualified for the job, he is careful
to show that he is not coveting the highest office in the land.
In an interview, he said he was referring to the
constitutional system of succession which places the vice-president
second in line in case of a vacancy at the presidential palace.
The vice-president has become a hot topic
because of a recycled campaign for President Arroyo to resign for
reportedly tolerating corruption in the government.
The constitutionalists have accepted de Castro
as successor in case of a resignation or ouster, but a wide segment
of the political opposition and civil society has doubts about his
qualifications.
Some say he is not professionally and
intellectually prepared for the job. Other critics claim one of his
priorities as successor is to protect the interests of the President
in her second life.
He is also seen as the fair-haired boy of a
giant radio-TV network that would take an active part in government
or in business if their former star newscaster becomes announcer in
chief.
A true loyalist, de Castro said he has rejected
suggestions that he cut off ties with Mrs. Arroyo or join the call
for her resignation.
He is keeping an open mind on the ZTE national
broadband scandal but believes his boss is not part of the mess.
Just the same, he says the guilty, if ever bribery is clearly
established, deserves to be punished.
How prepared is he for the presidency?
Well, he has been studying hard everyday,
learning everything there is to know about government. For
example, he takes active part in Cabinet meetings and has been
absent “only once or twice” since joining the administration.
De Castro is neither here nor there these days,
supported by a few but scorned by others. He lives up to the classic
image of the vice-president as spare tire for the day the car
suffers a flat.
But the car promises to roam far and wide until
2010. And Vice-President Noli must play backseat driver while the
other aspirants try to hitch a ride or get a faster and stronger
vehicle.
God help us
The most popular game in town these days is
scenario-playing or guess who will he the next commander in chief.
Some of the players are betting big money.
Vice-President de Castro leads the field because
he is the constitutional and logical successor.
If de Castro falters for one reason or another,
the crown will fall on either the Senate President or the House
Speaker.
But since the players want to explore all the
possibilities, then all constitutional options are off, because the
Pollyannas are betting President Arroyo would resign or call for a
snap election that the nonbelievers say she would lose.
If she is ousted from power, the next ruling
class is promoting a takeover council of civilian
leaders. If the ouster is backed by the military, an army junta is
logical. Who becomes the next civilian president or the new
strongman?
Former President Erap Estrada has offered
himself as a takeover president. Don’t count out the
highest-ranking general. Other opposition leaders think they have
made great sacrifices for the country. Former Cabinet officials who
resigned said they have put their career on the line. A power
struggle could be messy.
It seems the most acceptable is Mr. Rodolfo
Lozada Jr., the star witness in the broadband deal, who has been
compared by his cheering squad to Sen. Ninoy Aquino or to Jose Rizal.
His fans have started calling him the new savior and the fairest
hope.
He would be the alternative to Vice-President
Noli. Like Sen. Antonio Trillanes 4th, who won a Senate seat without
a sweat, J. Lo has become an overnight star and a certified winner,
with or without an election.
With his name on the table, the game playing is
settled. The losers may cry if they want to.
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