Vice presidency is much more than a ‘spare tire’

NOW THAT Sen. Grace Poe has finally declared she is running for president, we think it is going to be a neck-and-neck race between her and Vice President Jejomar Binay. We do not see Mar Roxas having a Chinaman’s chance. That’s just too bad because he is a good man; but without charisma, he is an interesting read as yesterday’s newspaper. And who can forget how Binay beat him to a pulp in 2010?

On the other hand, it’s good if Poe wins. But what if Binay’s hardcore support proves too formidable even for all the memory that her father, Fernando Poe Jr., can evoke again in her favor? And lest we forget, she might yet be disqualified by the Senate Electoral Tribunal for not being a “natural-born” citizen, thus paving the way clear for Binay’s walk in the park—straight to Malacañang!

For our country’s insurance against a Binay presidency, Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV, who has also declared he wants to run for vice president, has to win! Judging from his guts in exposing the Binay dynasty’s kleptocracy in Makati, Trillanes needs a strong and loud forum from which he can continue watching and denouncing whatever venalities Binay may continue to weave as president. No other candidate has demonstrated that kind of resoluteness and tenacity. We will be better off keeping him close to Binay (a heartbeat away!) as the latter’s worst nightmare!

The vice presidency is not a useless post. It is wrong to underestimate it as nothing more than “a spare tire.” Its power may be mute, but it is “ready to rumble” at a moment’s notice! Just consider that then Vice President Gloria Arroyo was able to work silently—but efficiently—to ease out former president Joseph Estrada on plunder charges!

—ANGELI O. MARCONI, [email protected]