Even if he could run, I hope he would not

It seems power really intoxicates those who wield it, that they would not know when enough is enough. We still remember the Cha-cha movements in the past when they tried to tinker with the Constitution, in an attempt to lift the presidential term limit and allow the incumbent to run for re-election, but thankfully, to no avail. To his credit, the late PNoy was an exception. He won, did his part, and left.

It does not appear that the present administration is looking at the possibility of amending the Constitution in this regard, but the public pronouncement of the President on his openness to be considered a vice presidential candidate, allegedly to maintain the equilibrium, has racked up public opinion on the proper interpretation of the constitutional limitation. Can he run for vice president? The believers say, “yes, he could and he should,” while the antis claim this will go against the spirit of the Constitution mandating that the president “may only serve for one term, and is ineligible for reelection.”

From my layman’s perspective, what the Constitution prohibits is re-election to the same position. If PGMA was allowed to run for Congress after her Malacañang stint, there may really be no legal obstacle for the president to run for vice president. But some say, this will give him a chance to serve more than one term as president because he will be but a stone’s throw away from the top post. Thus, if something happens to the new president, he, as vice president, will succeed and assume the top position and this shall put to naught the constitutional proscription.

But did not PGMA also assume the presidency through succession after President Erap’s “resignation” and then won the succeeding political contest and continued being president, this time by election? If there was no problem with succession to the presidency followed by election to the same office, why should it be different if it is by election first and then possible succession thereafter? Besides, PGMA became the Speaker of the House, which was also a few steps to the presidency, through succession. And, will the Supreme Court, with all the appointees of the President there, rule otherwise? Last check I did, we only have one Justice Leonen. So, if the President wants to run for vice president, I guess no legal magic could stop him.

I think the issue is not whether he COULD run, but whether he SHOULD run for vice president. Why should he? To preserve the gains of his administration? Is he worried that his presidential candidate will not succeed him? Yet, even if the other side would win the presidency, no successor would even think of undoing the true gains achieved by a predecessor if these are indeed for the best interest of the country and its people. He will risk being driven out of office the next morning. Must the President run to pursue the programs he was not able to implement during his term? But if he was not able to do it as President, will he be able to do it as vice president? If the next president will treat him in the same way he now treats his vice president, how can he achieve anything of significance? A mere outreach program will also be subjected to prying scrutiny and he may not even be allowed to dip a finger in fighting illegal drugs and criminality.

Suppose his candidate will win the presidency, will he be more powerful than the latter so that he can impose his own political agenda? Well, unless by design, whoever the President picks as his running mate would be willing to resign so that the true boss becomes the president again, through succession. Or maybe the new president would not mind being a figurehead, so that the true boss could continue running the government. Oh, I get it. This will happen only if someone he hand picks would run and win the presidency. While this may sound like good music to the diehards, will it not be a mockery of our democratic processes if they will vote for the minion so that the boss could perpetuate his reign? Is this not worse than tinkering with the Constitution?

Certainly, the President will be remembered for a lot of gains during his rule. His centerpiece Build! Build! Build! program may have indeed ushered in what they dubbed as the “golden age of infrastructure” and, with it, hopes of reduced poverty, decongestion of Metro Manila and economic growth everywhere in the country. Even the more efficient processing of day-to-day government transactions should be credited to the President’s dislike of red tape and corruption. We know how fast it is now to apply for a driver’s license, among others.

Of course, some will also remember him for his endless war on illegal drugs, the case now pending with the International Criminal Court, his fraternity brods convicted of plunder or even his “unpresidential” comments on national television. But the point is, the President also deserves rest and more sweet time for himself and his family.

We had our painful lessons of the past. Six years may be too short for a leader as good, perhaps, as Lee Kuan Yew of Singapore, but it seems we do not have one like him in the Philippines at this time, worth the trouble of amending the Constitution or taking advantage of a constitutional loophole.

To the President’s men, is it all worth the trouble of going around the bush? Will it not be best for the President to just pick a candidate he trusts to preserve the gains of his administration or continue the programs he was not able to implement during his term and just be an honorable and respected elder statesman for the rest of his life? There could be wisdom in giving others a chance to truly contribute.

There is no monopoly of political will, love of country or genuine public service. Should the President choose his candidate based on qualifications, merits and the will to serve, and the people will validate his presidential performance by delivering the winning votes to his anointed one, he or she could even be a better president, if given the chance to chart the nation’s path his or her own way.

The President won in 2016, did and is still doing his part as President. May he sing Frank Sinatra’s “My Way” come 2022 and enjoy his retirement from politics. I am just hoping for another chapter, as it should be!