Sunday, March 02, 2008
Arroyo still trusts de Castro: official (7:42 p.m.)
MANILA -- Vice President Noli de Castro continues to enjoy the trust and confidence of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, positive that he would remain loyal to the administration despite calls for the Chief Executive to resign and his preparedness to take over the government if asked for.
“He (de Castro) is still enjoying the full trust and confidence of the President. (And) Noli’s loyalty to the President is already tested,” said Chief Presidential Legal Counsel Sergio Antonio Apostol.
According to Apostol, Malacañang has no reason to feel bad or take it against de Castro for saying that he is “prepared” to take over from Arroyo should she resign or be forced out of office.
He said they are not taking it against the Vice President nor do they see any negative intention in his pronouncements.
He added that de Castro, as the Vice President, under the law is the constitutional successor of the President should the position become vacant before 2010.
De Castro, in his weekly radio program “Para Sa Iyo, Bayan,” said he is “prepared, not preparing” to take over in the event that there is a vacancy in the presidency.
He said since he won in the 2004 elections, he knows that it is part of his mandate as Vice President to take charge of government when the need arises. (JMR/Sunnex) |
