Thursday, March 06, 2008 Seares: Poor Noli, the vice president By Pachico A. Seares News Sense
VICE President Noli de Castro, reports say, is bracing for the presidency, coached by persons who see their own cushy roles if he gets the job.
Prepping is a lot of work, say critics who think Noli's talents don't include anything tougher than reading news from a TV studio teleprompter.
VPs are pretty much taken for granted. Jokes tell about their being spare tire kept in storage or their living in a mansion with no furniture.
But poor Noli suffers more than other vice presidents. Unlike Gloria Arroyo when she was yet VP, Noli still has to be rated presidential.
Huge "if"
Under the Constitution, Noli takes over as president if Gloria resigns.
Now, that's a huge "if," for Mrs. Arroyo has said, in effect, that before 2010 she has to be dragged out from Malacañang kicking and screaming or drugged to sleep. And even then, she wouldn't sign anything remotely looking like a resignation letter.
Most people, including Edsa 1 and Edsa 2 profiteers, are wary about people power. And junta, military or civilian, is simply a horrid option.
We who live outside Manila also abhor an extra-legal and unconstitutional process that makes Manilans sole arbiter in changing Palace crooks.
Must we suffer Noli then, critics ask. He's constitutional heir, good Lord. The man earned the title in an election, now widely regarded as dubious but still valid until legally nullified.
Besides, a president's mental credentials impress but don't assure honesty. The crisis now is about super greed.
What if president Noli turns out to be a disaster? For one, we might learn to be smarter in electing the next VP.
