Trivializing the presidency

“The Vice-Presidency isn’t worth a pitcher of warm piss.” — John Nance Garner

EVERYONE wants to be President. Nobody wants to be a second fiddle and convenient prop as vice president to a presidential candidate.

However, the fact is that the vice president is the lawful and heir apparent of the Chief Executive.

Contrary to the popular notion, the Vice-Presidency is a vital and important office, and not the deprecatory “spare tire” and outeast.

In Philippine politics, the vice president, is, unlike in the United States, elected separately, and may therefore come from different political parties.

In the United States, the Vice-President is not only elected together with the president but also becomes, if elected, the presiding chairman of the Senate.

Due to unforeseen circumstances, it is noteworthy that at least four Filipino vice presidents have become presidents due to the untimely departure or death of a president.

In this respect, the incumbent President should not only groom the VP as a worthy successor but should also make sure that he (she) is qualified and an highly capable person.

For this reason, the Constitution should be amended to mandate that a vote for the president is automatically a vote for the vice president to ensure continuity and avoid the conflict of the president and the vice president coming from rival political parties.

Now, for example, we have the spectacle of the Liberal Party presidential standardbearer Sec. Mar Roxas scrambling to recruit popular personalities such as Sen. Grace Poe, or Rep. Leni Robredo, or Batangas Governor Vilma Santos, or Kris Aquino as his running mate without delving deeper into their capabilities, character, and experience as possible successors.

First, the fact that there are now several attractive candidates wanting to run for president, apart from Vice President Jejomar Binay, such as Sen. Bongbong Marcos, Sen. Meriam Defensor Santiago, Sen. Grace Poe, former Sen. Panfilo Lacson, and Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte, is a clear indication that Pres. Noynoy Aquino is losing his touch. Without his pork barrel and Disbursement Acceleration Program (DAP), P-Noy is no longer the all-powerful endorser and kingmaker of five years ago. Without money, P-Noy is a lameduck president.

Second, it is reminded that the next president and his administration will be confronted with lingering, ponderous, intractable, and devisive issues, such as the Bangsamoro autonomy and secession, territorial dispute with China, overdue constitutional revision, rapid population growth, poverty, unemployment, and the widening gap between the few rich and the many poor.

For these reasons, it is unfair and an insult to the Filipino masses that our political leaders should be trivializing the presidency for their own selfish reasons by recruiting popular candidates who may not have the faintest idea of the seriousness of our problems which require profundity, experience, political will, decisiveness, and integrity.

When all is said and done we are certain to elect a democratic president.

However, should the unexpected happen, are these lovely ladies capable of taking over the reins of government?

You be the judge.