Cayetano: No VP bet wants to replace ‘disqualified’ president

Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

With cases threatening to disqualify two presidential aspirants, is being the vice president the easiest route to Malacañang?

Vice presidential hopeful Senator Alan Peter Cayetano on Wednesday said that he is not wishing to become the country’s next president by having the elected president disqualified.

“I don’t think any vice presidential candidate in his right mind thinks of being president via disqualification,” Cayetano said during a media forum at a bakery in Quezon City.

Cayetano is one of the 19 persons who filed their certificates of candidacy at the Commission on Elections last week.

He said that should the elected president be disqualified, it would not be easy to unseat him.

“Once you are president, all the powers are there. It is not easy to stage an Edsa 1 or 2,” he said, referring to the two “People Power” revolts which unseated two presidents: former presidents Ferdinand E. Marcos and Joseph Estrada.

Two leaders in presidential poll surveys are facing charges which could bar them from seeking the presidency: Vice President Jejomar Binay on graft and corruption charges and Senator Grace Poe on questions regarding her citizenship and residency requirements.

READ: DLSU prof files 3rd disqualification case against Poe | Poe: Disqualification cases won’t succeed

The senator said that he is in favor of the speedy resolution of the cases filed against presidential aspirants who have grave charges hovering over their heads.

“It is hard that we have a president who is facing grave charges. I am for the speedy resolution of their cases, be it in the SET (Senate Electoral Tribunal) or the Comelec. In case that there is an appeal, I also want it to be resolved fast,” Cayetano said.

He said that Poe should face the disqualification cases filed against her because even if the cases were politically-motivated, the cases are seeking judgment for a legal issue.

“Obviously, there is politics involved. But I do think it’s a real legal issue that should be decided upon,” he said. IDL