The President’s ominous bid for VP

We have known all along that President Duterte has very little respect, if at all, for the Constitution. Not content with blatantly betraying the public trust reposed in him to protect Philippine sovereignty by warmly welcoming China to come in and trample our sacred shores, he also mocks the constitutional mandate limiting his term to only six years and absolutely no more.

Albay Rep. Edcel Lagman has put in black and white what everyone was already saying: Mr. Duterte is shamelessly lusting for a power grab (“Lagman: Duterte wants to be ‘successor-president’ with VP bid,” Inquirer.net, 7/18/21). Knowing as a lawyer that the vice presidency is just a “spare tire” post and there is absolutely nothing in it for him, what in God’s name is Mr. Duterte really up to?

This is very ominous. Since a VP bid for Mr. Duterte seems to be a “sure thing” (if the surveys are to be believed and they usually come true) and could carry his presidential “manok” or dummy to victory with him, it is a foregone conclusion that he will have the latter step aside pronto to give way to his succession. And it will all be legal, albeit totally immoral.God save the Philippines!

Jan Vincent L. Martinez, [email protected]