Lacson backs proposal to elect president and vice president in tandem

Sen. Panfilo “Ping” Lacson. INQUIRER.net file photo / CATHY MIRANDA

MANILA, Philippines — Senator Panfilo Lacson supports the proposal to have the president and vice president elected in tandem, just like in the United States.

In an interview with ABS-CBN News Channel on Wednesday, Lacson backed the idea floated by Buhay Rep. Lito Atienza, which the latter said would address the “problematic” election of the two top officials from opposing political parties.

“I would support that except that I am not sure if it is a violation of the Constitution. I am not sure. I have not read the provision pero bakit hindi nga in tandem na boboto [but why would we not vote them in tandem]?” said Lacson.

But the senator said that should Atienza file a House bill to pursue the proposal and it turns out not to be in consonance with the provisions of the 1987 Constitution, it may end up declared unconstitutional by the Supreme Court.

Atienza earlier made the suggestion following the latest feud between President Rodrigo Duterte and Vice President Leni Robredo over the latter’s leadership in the Inter-Agency Committee on Anti-Illegal Drugs (ICAD).

Duterte fired Robredo as co-chair of ICAD 18 days after appointing her in the committee, over her taunt that he should just tell her directly if he does not want her holding the position.

“Our current set up wherein the president and the vice president may belong to different political parties is really problematic, counterproductive and highly impractical,” Atienza was quoted as saying in a media report.

Lacson, meanwhile, said that Robredo “did all the right things” as ICAD co-chair “because she started consulting many people.”

“Even if she was fired, I think public opinion is still on her side,” the senator added.

Edited by JPV