TO the nagging question: “Who can replace her (GMA)?” — the logical answer is in this form: “What if she’s incapacitated, or she resigns or, God forbid, she dies, will the Philippines be lost in oblivion?”
No one is indispensable regardless whether or not he or she occupies the highest position in the land. Maybe a “lesser evil” (as a figure of speech) will, but let’s hope the one who next occupies the seat is no evil. So, if the office of the president is vacated, there is no choice but for the VP to assume the office of the presidency — regardless of whether or not the VP is “capable” of leading the nation.
Perhaps, we can backtrack starting from the Comelec… How are candidates qualified and/or “disqualified” from running for office? Our voters can only select from candidates pre-selected by the Comelec. Disqualifying candidates is left with the Comelec — in the hands of people no less like the former [chairman Benjamin] Abalos! So, what’s there to choose from? There are thousands/millions of Filipinos who believe that the current VP is not capable to do so, but there are more who believed he can — when they elected him along with her in the last elections. Tainted with fraud as it may have been, that last election, nevertheless, had placed them (President and VP) in their current seats. And, if the nation cannot remove either or both of them from their seats, then there’s no other way but for the people to let them finish their terms but closely watching them with vigilant eyes and corresponding vigilant action, such as what’s happening today — perhaps, until such time that the people have gathered enough courage and strength to force a critical change without bloodshed.
Assuming that the VP replaces the President, and if he performs/behaves like the person he replaced, then we know that the people can replace him, too, anytime, perhaps easier than when the same people mandated the ouster of the President. So, whether we believe or not in the “capability” of the VP to lead the nation, we must learn to accept the fact that life is [about] taking risks. Life is asking questions without expecting to get all the answers within our lifetime.
– Jimmy Leonida, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia (via e-mail)
Loading ...
March 6th, 2008 at 10:51 am
45
Romy Santos Says:
March 5th, 2008 at 5:20 pm
Now that GMA has scrapped EO464, I think it would be best for everyone if she turns over the presidency to Noli. For her opponents, it will finally give hope to improve the lives of Filipinos. For herself, it would be the best timing for her to leave now since Noli can protect her exit, not 2010 when Noli is not there to protect her anymore. She can live in the US and the Filipinos may forgive her. What may have happened with all the problems in our democracy is a learning curve, soon we will learn to live in an honest and fair democracy, if we are given a chance to improve it. End the misery of many Filipinos, Mrs. President, please turn over the presidency to Noli now.
……………………………………..
Its true she scrap EO#464 but she didn’t scrap EO#108 which is a clone of EO#464 Its only means they still can use #108 to protect their ass!
March 6th, 2008 at 12:56 am
To Pedro,
about what Noli are you talkig that should be a better President than Kennedy? Let’s hope you did not mean that former TV host who has been accused of , let’s say, “taking not so honest advabtages of his being in a position where he could boost or damage personalities and businesses”. It has never been cleared by any fact finding, except Noli’s denial.And too, being the same pollcheat-accused as GMA. In many cases proven, not only accused. Is RP really unable to replace a very controversial President with someone who is not also controversial in the same way? Has Noli said anything about the recent scandals, except now when he smelled the chance to become President? No, he just waited to find out who could win the battle for to be with the right side. All the comparing with Truman, Kennedy etc. is nonsense, because they all have been well experienced politicians of high ranks, not a TV blabbery. At TV you can make the most stupid and it has not any impact on the country, usually it is not even remembered anymore after few days. For a President, it can be a very different, even catastrophic matter.
March 6th, 2008 at 12:04 am
On comment #40 by Poor Juan
“Assumption classmates ask Arroyo to dump EO 464
xxxxxxxxxxxxx
There is no way she’s going to dump EO#464 thats their protection. Ano sila tanga!”
Well, what can I say. They really are!
March 5th, 2008 at 10:43 pm
chi chi Says:
March 4th, 2008 at 11:28 pm
Bukod sa $329-milyon ZTE-National Broadband Network (NBN) scandal, nandiyan din ang P728 milyong fertilizer scam, ang NorthRail project, ang $14 milyon IMPSA power plant project, ang P1.3 bilyon poll automation project at ang Macapagal Boulevard project.
No ending corruption under the bogus regime of Gloria Arroyo! Is this the PRESIDENT YOU’RE PROTECTING?! Is this the type of PRESIDENT YOU WANT TO LEAD THE COUNTRY?!. If it is, The philippines surely going down under.
********************************
YES!!!!YES!!!! and a big yes. She is the type of president we want.
These are all big programs of the government being implemented.
The executive department is doing its work unlike the senate only talk, talk and talk.
But of course, you think otherwise. Like most filipinos you have dirty mind, suspicious, speculating and paranoid.
Just because these are million dollar projects you think of kickback and corruption without proof but “marahil, baka,yata or in english maybe”.
What you see is a miniscule dirt out of a very clean laundry.
On the bright side, the country is going high tech to be competitive and people are at par with other , infrastructures are everywhere to unclog traffic, trains will be bullet and not run by bicol express sili and no more one by one counting of ballots and the country will be green because of power plant.
GMA is the president we want!!!.
The Philippines is going upward
March 5th, 2008 at 10:05 pm
Very true. Whether you like him or not, Noli de Castro was elected to the vice-presidency. Besides, Noli will only have to fill in as president for two years and would then seek a fresh mandate in 2010. With GMA, we are still unsure if she will push for ChaCha and become prime minister after 2010 or find another way of giving her immunity for her crimes.
What I really do not understand is, why on earth hasn’t criminal charges been filed against First Gentlemen Mike Arroyo. He is not an elected official and is not part of the Executive branch. The Ombudsman office (if they were true to their constitutional duties) should have filed charges against him.