AT exactly 12 high noon yesterday, President Rodrigo Duterte assumed office as the 16th President of the Philippines. He took his oath of office, delivered a 15-minute address, swore in the members of his Cabinet, received members of the diplomatic corps, and immediately sat down for work. He hit the ground running. On her part, new Vice President Maria Leonor Robredo took her oath and delivered her own inaugural in a separate venue at 9 a.m.—three hours before the constitutionally designated time for the oath-taking. VP Jejomar Binay had not yet officially vacated his office at that time.

This, however, could be but a minor constitutional wrinkle that need not disturb her. She has more to worry about the electoral protest filed by Sen. Ferdinand (Bongbong) Marcos against her election before the Supreme Court (as the Presidential Electoral Tribunal) on Wednesday afternoon.

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