Bypassing VP will never happen – Macalintal
The camp of Vice President Ma. Leonor “Leni” Robredo believes the draft charter in the House of Representatives that removes her from succession in the country’s transition to federalism will “never happen.”
Robredo’s lead counsel Romulo Macalintal said the proposed federal constitution was a “mere political calisthenics,” with the House panel’s decision to put the Senate President in line of succession due to her election protest.
Macalintal questioned such proposal to skip Robredo as President Duterte’s successor during the transition period based on the reason of Leyte Representative Vicente Veloso.
Veloso, chair of the House committee on constitutional amendments, claimed this aims to prevent the threat of “instability” that comes with the protest against Robredo.
Robredo is facing an electoral case filed by former senator Ferdinand Marcos Jr., whom she defeated by a slim margin of 263,473 votes in the 2016 vice presidential race.
“The election protest filed by Marcos as ground for ousting VP Leni is clearly frivolous if not outright ridiculous. Since when did a pending election protest be the basis of succession to the highest position of the land?” he asked.
“Veloso’s ground has no visible means of any legal or factual support. It is baseless and do not deserve any consideration,” said Macalintal.
Sotto next in line
Section 4, Article XVII on the Transitory Provisions of Resolution of Both Houses (RBH) No. 15, authored by Speaker Gloria Macapagal Arroyo and 21 other lawmakers, puts Senate President Vicente Sotto III as next in line should Duterte is unable to perform his duties.
“In case a vacancy arises by reason of removal, resignation, permanent incapacity or death of the incumbent President, the incumbent Senate President shall act as President until a President shall have been chosen and qualified,” it read.
Macalintal also raised questions on why Duterte’s allies are pushing for the removal of Robredo from the presidential line of succession if he is indeed healthy to lead the transition government.
“Despite Malacañang's statement that the President is stronger than a carabao, why is that his allies seem to be implying that President Duterte is sick and this may affect his term? “he said in Filipino.
More instability
Bypassing the Vice President in the line of succession in the event the President is unable to perform his duties in favor of the Senate President will only generate more instability in government, Senate Minority Leader Franklin Drilon said.
Drilon pointed out that even the term of the position of the Senate President is uncertain as he can be ousted by his colleagues.
“Precisely, the stability is the well-defined succession to the Office of the President. The Senate President is subject to election and change anytime by the 23 senators,” Drilon said.
“I have always emphasized this. The Senate President is a gift of the 23 senators. Precisely, if they want to achieve stability, the stability is to follow the rule of succession; otherwise, there will be instability, because the Senate President can be replaced anytime,” the minority leader stressed. (With a report from Hannah L. Torregoza)