UNO acknowledges Noli as Arroyo constitutional successor
By Desiree Caluza
Northern Luzon Bureau
First Posted 18:33:00 03/02/2008
BAGUIO CITY -- Whether Filipinos like it or not, Vice President Noli de Castro is the constitutional successor of President Macapagal-Arroyo in case she resigns or the post of the presidency is declared vacant.
And Sen. Francis Escudero and lawyer Adel Tamano, spokesperson of the United Opposition (UNO), said on Saturday the political opposition acknowledged and respected that fact.
Escudero and Tamano, who were here on Saturday as guests of the local chapter of the Philippine Jaycees, said they did not approve of De Castro sitting as the country’s next president, in case of a vacancy, but they said they wanted to respect the Constitution.
"What we want is truth and accountability. I do not approve of, and I did not vote for, Vice President Noli de Castro, but if it is constitutional, then so be it. But we should not dictate [on our people] who should be fit [to sit as] president," Escudero said.
"Since UNO supports the Constitution, we have no choice but Noli. We are hoping against hope that Noli will resign. But if GMA (Ms Arroyo) will resign, Noli will be our president, whether we like it or not," Tamano told reporters here.
Escudero said the opposition has been expecting that some administration officials would eventually side with them before the 2010 elections because of the corruption issues hounding the Arroyo administration.
"Even Vice President De Castro is saying that Jun Lozada is a credible witness, that we should look for the truth. I will not be surprised if he will distance himself from the administration and run as an opposition candidate in the 2010 elections," said Escudero.
Tamano also said Filipinos should stop thinking that the country would crumble without Ms Arroyo.
"Let us remove the myth that Ms Arroyo is indispensable. Pag nag-resign siya, hindi guguho ang mundo natin, hindi magsasara lahat ng business, tuloy pa rin ang trabaho kahit wala si GMA. Hindi ko maintindihan, bakit akala ng mga tao sa Malacañang, sa akin medyo arogante na eh, na pag wala sila, sira na ang mundo natin (If she resigns, it is not the end of our world, businesses will not close down, we would still buckle down to work even without GMA. What I cannot understand is why people in Malacañang, to the point of arrogance, keep on insisting that our world will stop when they’re gone)," he said.
Tamano said there were people in government brilliant and fit to serve the country.
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