No clash between president and vice president in a federal gov’t, says Puno

Citing the possibility of a constant clash between two opposing leaders, former Chief Justice Reynato Puno said that under the new proposed federal form of government, the people will vote for a president and a vice-president as one.

“For instance, the president and the vice president will still be elected by the direct vote of the people nationally.  But they will be voted as a team, voted in tandem,” Puno said during a forum in Manila on Tuesday.

“A vote for the president will be considered a vote for his/ her vice president.  This will preclude the problem of having a president and a vice president coming from different parties,” he added.

In the current set-up, a winning president and vice-president may not belong to the same party.  This practice is present today, as President Rodrigo Duterte does not belong to the same party with Vice President Leni Robredo.

Puno also said that if the government adopts the proposal, the vice president will have a definite role in the administration.

“Under the proposal, the president has to appoint the vice president as a member of the cabinet.  In other words, the vice president will not just be a spare tire,” he said.

“The vice president will no longer be waiting as a pallbearer of the president,” he added.

Currently, vice presidents may be given positions in the administration, but it is under the prerogative of the president.  Such is the case for Robredo, who was previously assigned by President Duterte as Housing Secretary.   /muf