I am surprised by the article of Dean Amado Valdez of the UE College of Law, stating that President Arroyo must resign, or at least go on terminal leave, if she runs for Congress representing the Second District of Pampanga.

I know the Constitution as much as Dean Valdez does, and we both know there is nothing in it that requires the Chief Executive of the land to resign or go on terminal leave if he/she decides to run for another position and files a certificate of candidacy for that purpose. Of course, I’m not suggesting here that Mrs. Arroyo run for another public office after her term ends in 2010. Mine is purely an academic discussion of what I understand from the provisions of Article 7, Sections 7 and 8 of the Constitution with regard to succession. It is clear that a President, once elected, serves his/her term unless impeached, dies, is permanently disabled or resigns. The filing of a certificate of candidacy for a lower position during his/her term is not one of those taboos enumerated under Section 8 of Article 6 of the Constitution. It is clear from this provision that if the President is removed from office, dies, resigns or is permanently disabled, then the vice president ipso jure (by operation of law; by the law itself) assumes the presidency. If the vice president cannot qualify, then the Senate president becomes president, or in the absence of the Senate president, the speaker of the House shall assume the office of the president.

I disagree with Mr. Valdez that because the President has taken her oath to faithfully and conscientiously discharge the duties of her office, she cannot be a candidate for another position. For instance, a senator who runs for vice president or president need not resign. Or in fact, when the President leaves the country to travel abroad on official business, she does not have to go on leave. I strongly believe that the political career of the President, or any president for that matter, does not end with the presidency. The political plan of an incumbent President at the end of his/her prescribed term is purely a personal option. There are always other options. Anyway, this issue can be discussed in the proper forum, and I challenge anyone to a debate on this subject anytime, anywhere.

I am even more amused by the claim of Makati Mayor Jejomar Binay that if the President runs for Congress, it will pave the way for the Chief Justice to assume the presidency. I thought Mayor Binay is a good lawyer and knows his Constitution. Perhaps, however, he has forgotten Section 8, Article 7, of the 1987 Charter.

* * *

This column has learned that former President Cory Aquino has returned to the hospital for her colon-cancer treatment. We are sorry to know that her ailment, despite the best medical attention, does not seem to abate, news which is a matter of deep concern for most of the citizens of this country. Let us wish former President Cory God’s blessings and pray that she gets well soon.

* * *

Chairman Jose Melo of the Commission on Elections (Comelec) should not look peeved that the Senate is investigating the bidding for the purchase of machines to automate the 2010 elections. The Comelec chairman should not be so protective of the winning bidder because as far as I’m concerned, whatever the reasons of the senators in conducting an investigation of the bidding results, I believe their concerns are legitimate and should not be dismissed outright as “sour grapes” by the losing bidders. The fact is, there are quite a number of issues and doubts about the capability of the winning bidder to fully meet the specifications of the contract; it appears that even the capitalization of the company is suspect. Murphy’s Law dictates that if anything can go wrong, it will go wrong. We must remember that automating the electoral process nationwide will surely propel many technical problems to surface, which is a serious concern because should the balloting and the counting fail to function properly, very serious and dire consequences will result. That would be worse than the embarrassment of reverting to the manual process, which is already familiar to Filipino voters.

n n n

We should thank the Almighty that despite some damage to property and the loss of some lives, Typhoon Feria finally exited to the South China Sea without wreaking too much havoc along its path. Certainly, we can congratulate the responsible government authorities whose quick and intelligent response to the threats of the calamity saved the nation from suffering as much as in the past. The country is in the midst of the typhoon season, which may last up to November. Since our country averages about 20 or so typhoons a year, there is no way to deter such unwanted visits, but awareness and preparedness may be the antidote against the fury of Mother Nature.

* * *

After the Church hierarchy announced it will no longer meddle with purely political issues, and discourage students and Church officials from attending that last Makati rally versus constituent assembly, it seems that now the Church is at it again by announcing its support for the planned boycott of the State of the Nation Address (Sona) in late July. I wonder how it will look to the country and to the world if, during the national prayer traditionally said before the Sona, the Church official who usually leads the prayer will fail to appear.

9 Responses to “The presidency is not the end of the road”

• 1
  Dom Quimpo
  June 29th, 2009 13:27

  Raul Gonzalez is nuts. He’s cracked up. You can’t believe a damn word that comes out of his mouth. He just refuses to stop lying!
• 2
  Lori Grace Sayo
  June 29th, 2009 13:36

  There is no limit to how low Gloria Arroyo will stoop just to try to stay in power. She has the last word on deceipt and corruption, she and Raul Gonzalez.
  THE PHILIPPINES IS THE MOST CORRUPT COUNTRY IN ASIA! AND THE SECOND MOST CORRUPT IN THE WORLD BECAUSE OF GLORIA ARROYO!! We are at the top of the corruption list, take that Raul Gonzalez!!!! See story below posted on June 8th, 2009
  Author: Pet Melliza, The Beekeeper, ☼ IloiloViews
  Extension is the last thing that the illegal tenant of Malacañang deserves.
  She should be made to answer for the series of monumental broad daylight robbery – the $300-million ZTE-NBN, the P720 million fertilizer scam, the P10 billion Macapagal highway, and the P1.6 billion election automation scandal, among others.
  GMA and her ilk scarcely deserve to stay in office a minute longer for their war crimes – the 900 cases of extrajudicial killings and over 200 cases of involuntary disappearances mostly of opposition activists with her security forcdes as principal suspect.
  Since the very start of her term in 2001, her administration has perpetuated itself in unbroken yarn of lies.
  GMA and her ilk who have led this blighted land to its rare distinction as THE MOST CORRUPT IN ASIA and THE SECOND IN THE WORLD, simply refuse to read the signs of the times.
• 3
  Noel Velasco
  June 29th, 2009 14:09

  Perhaps Raul Gonzalez forgot that he was suspended (the longest suspension in history) from practicing law because of his ignorance of the law. We all know that he has no clue what he’s talking about with regards to the Constitution. He is a senile buffoon who can hardly finish a whole sentence when he talks!
  If Gonzalez wants to be technical, Gloria Arroyo can’t really resign because she was not elected in the first place, she stole the presidency.
  There is no surprise when anybody asks Gloria Arroyo to step down from her illegitimate presidency because majority of the Filipinos share that sentiment. And the reasons for her to step down are endless…
  Mayor Jejomar Binay is sharp and healthy and has all his mental faculties intact, unlike Raul Gonzalez who has that infamous foot-in-mouth disease plus that impending senility…Gonzalez is the last person on earth who has the right to criticize Mayor Binay.
  Here’s what one Iloilo Views blogger posted:
  “Raul Gonzales’ actuations and behavior are so alarming and worrisome that he now needs psychiatric treatment. The Arroyo Administration he so faithfully serves should now take the initiative to give the ex-DOJ’s top muchacho what he desperately needs – rehabilitation in a mental hospital.” by Froilan Vincent Bersamina
• 4
  Gail
  June 29th, 2009 19:03

  I’m actually interested in Raul Gonzalez’s autopsy, whenever that happens, and any details it will provide on the missing portions of his brain.
  Dean Amado Valdez of UE has credibilty!! Raul Gonzalez has none!!!
  All the praises that Gonzalez sings to Arroyo are just to ingratiate himself to her because he is nothing without her. He has this deep need to suck up to her, trying to get back to her good graces since she fired him from the doj. She slapped him on the face in front of the whole country and he continues to lick her boots. He has lost all dignity and self-respect.
  Gloria Arroyo is the most corrupt of them all, worse even than Marcos and Imelda. That’s that!! No amount of sugar-coating by Raul Gonzalez fools anyone. This oldman is such a loser!!!!
• 5
  Mike Sanson
  June 30th, 2009 08:46

  Raul Gonzalez has a basic lack of knowledge of the law and the constitution, and was suspended for 51 months:

  “In denying his Motion for Reconsideration, We said that “the indefiniteness of the respondent’s suspension, far from being ‘cruel’ or ‘degrading’ or ‘inhuman’ has the effect of placing, as it were, the key to the restoration of his rights and privileges as a lawyer in his own hands.

  That sanction has the effect of giving respondent the chance to purge himself in his own good time of his contempt and misconduct by acknowledging such misconduct, exhibiting appropriate repentance and demonstrating his willingness and capacity to live up to the exacting standards of conduct rightly demanded from every member of the bar and the officer of the courts.”

  Respondent pleads for his reinstatement to the practice of law because his suspension on for 51 months has been the longest in Philippine legal annals.
• 6
  Al
  June 30th, 2009 09:26

  BY ELLEN TORDESILLAS:
  Ma-Honduras kaya tayo?
  Kung nabasa ni Gloria Arroyo ang nangyari sa Honduras kahapon, dapat manginig siya sa takot. Dapat rin simulan na niya ang pag-empake at kung malasin siya baka hindi na siya umabot sa Hunyo 2010.
  Sa balita kahapon na ang presidente ng Honduras na si Manuel Zelaya ay pinatalsik sa isang military coup. Dinala daw ng eroplano ng military sa bayan ng Costa Rica si Zelaya.
  Matatapos na raw ang termino ni Zelaya at ayon sa kanilang Constitution, hindi na siya pwedeng tumakbo. Pinipilit niyang palitan ang Constitution at marami ang pumapalag kasama na ang military.
  Noong isang linggo, tinanggal ni Zelaya ang military chief na si Gen. Romeo Vasquez dahil ayaw niya magpagamit sa hindi naman opisyal na referendum na siyang gustong gamitin ni Zelaya para mapanatili siya sa kanyang pwesto kahit tapos na ang kanyang termino.
  Kaya ayan, na-kudeta siya.
  Nakakatawa kasi kapag binasa mo ang balita, kung palitan mo ang pangalang “Honduras” ng “Pilipinas”, halos pareho ang sitwasyon.
• 7
  Tom Juanes
  June 30th, 2009 15:26

  KAILANGAN MAWALA NA SI GLORIA ARROYO!! Mag-Honduras na tayo!!

  “Sa mga may natitira pang katinuan at pagmamahal sa bayan na mga sundalo, huwag kayong magpaka-DUWAG! Gawin ninyo ang nararapat gawin. Huwag kayong magpailalim sa kapangyarihan ng Dimonya at mga kampon niya! Ipagtanggol ang demokrasya at Konstitusyon katulad ng ginawa ng Honduran Army!

  Gawin ninyo ito para bumalik ang nasirang dangal ng ating bansa. Tulungan ninyong makakawala sa tanikala ng kahirapan at pagdudusa ang ating mga kababayan. Huwag kayong masilaw sa mga pangakong pera, promosyon, at iba pang benepisyong alok sa inyo ng Magnanakaw na nasa Malakanyang! Katulad lamang ni Hudas ang gumagawa nito! Huwag kayong magpagamit sa Pekeng Pangulo! Ang mga heneral ninyong pinuno na lantaran ang pagsuporta sa Bruhang Pandak ay niloloko lang kayo!
  Tama na ang katangahan at kaduwagan! Ibalik ang tiwala ng mga tao sa inyo na ina-asahan nilang mga tagapagtanggol! Karapatan ninyong huwag sumunod sa mga ilegal na mga utos! Ibalik ninyo ang inyong dangal! Huwag ninyong ipikit ang inyong mga mata sa hinaing ito ng bayan!

  BAYAN ang unahing mahalin at pagsilbihan hindi ang makapal ang mukha na nasa Malakanyang.”
• 8
  Romy
  July 1st, 2009 15:58

  Madoff got 150 yrs in prison for squandering 50 billion dollars from his investors. This amount is so small compared to the trillion dollar economy of the US.
  Compare this to the pandak GMA’s billion pesos travelling spree, tongpats and what have you! She should be jailed more than three lifetimes!
  The Philippines should prosecute plundering leaders (not the same detention Erap had where he was detained in his luxury ranch), starting with Gloria Arroyo!
• 9
  danny
  July 2nd, 2009 18:14

  Here’s an article of Benign0 posted in FV, to those who mentioned Honduras vis a vis Gloria:

  The search for “parallelisms”. It’s almost like a sign of desperation in the face of a consistently flaccid public response to tired and increasingly trite calls for expressions of “indignation” against the Arroyo administration. Sure sure. Gloria is “evil”. She cheated. She is a power Klingon. She is this, she is that. She is planning to do this, and planning to do that. Yadda yadda yadda ad infinitum.

  Ok, I get that, esteemed people of the “Opposition”. So show me the money.

  As I wrote in a recent article,

  The Philippine “Opposition” has failed in the last several decades to offer an imaginative or visionary alternative to Filipinos. Instead all we continue to see is an n-th iteration of an approach to “reform”.

  [...]

  It continues to use 1986 thinking to battle a 2009 issue.

  So what do the esteemed mouthpieces of our “Opposition” do as part of their futile quests for relevance? They look overseas to scavenge for “parallels”.

  Earlier it was a search for inspiration from the unrest gripping Iran, that belligerent desert kingdom where an innocent bystander was murdered during a protest rally and then summarily proclaimed a “hero” of the moment. Some people then siezed upon it as an inspiring reminder of our own ten minutes of glory more than twenty years ago, unfortunately to the point of bad taste.

  Having tried that to no avail, we then set our sights upon the Honduras whose president Manuel Zelaya was ousted in a recent military coup. Again, true to form, some bozo quips:

  Kung nabasa ni Gloria Arroyo ang nangyari sa Honduras kahapon, dapat manginig siya sa takot.

  [Translated: "If [President] Gloria Arroyo read what happened in the Honduras yesterday, she should be trembling in fear now.”]

  Indeed, it “could serve as a stern warning” to the President and, get this folks, “perhaps an encouragement to the [Philippine] military” postulates Jun Bautista in a thinly-veiled incitement of rebellion titled “Honduras May Embolden GMA” — an article that comes across more like a lame attempt at reverse-psychology.

  Dumb and dumber.

  Sad and sadder.

  There is nothing more poignant than the sight of a people gripped by a crisis of relevance and meaning, trying to mitigate their pathos by identifying with or drawing parallels from success stories, champs, and heroes.

  Iran? The Honduras?

  Those are not parallels.

  But this one is:

  Sports Fan Psychology

  The exploits of our sports heroes on field invoke some form of primal tribalism within us — the kind that could be behind violent hooliganism often seen in spectators of soccer matches. We feel “emboldened” to “take control” as we gawk at that flying tackle, that double pump lay-up, that cross-field shot. We suddenly feel the urge to break away from, well, something.

  And what is that something? As our thoughts come back to our immediate circumstances, we seize upon what we see — our humdrum day job, our obscure suburban existence, the speed limit we need to observe — things that are of our own making or are the outcomes of our own decisions (or indecisions) suddenly feel like a prison. That’s the effect that media-induced adrenaline coursing through our veins has on our minds. It messes with our perception of what is real and important.

  Suddenly we cut to a commercial break where the effects of that hormonal cocktail is harvested. Someone behind the scenes is laughing all the way to the bank.

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