#AnimatED: Choosing a vice president

The vice-presidential debate organized by the Commission on Elections enriched the campaign discourse.

Overall, it was instructive in getting to know more about the 6 VP candidates. It gave the public a rich source of insight into their personalities, ideas and demeanor under time pressure and in the full glare of klieg lights.

The other VP debate on April 17, put together by ABS-CBN, wasn’t as engaging because 2 of the candidates – front runner Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr and Gregorio “Gringo” Honasan – did not show up. But Marcos’ absence did not prevent his party mates Alan Peter Cayetano and Antonio Trillanes IV from hitting him.

Really, why should we care about these 2nd-tier candidates?

The foremost reason is that any of them can become president in case the incumbent dies or is unable to rule.

But should the affairs of state remain normal, the VP, in the Philippine context, is given a Cabinet post. Examples: VP Gloria Arroyo was secretary of social welfare and development during Joseph Estrada’s abbreviated presidency. Jejomar Binay was President Benigno Aquino III’s housing czar.

Arroyo eventually became president and Binay is toughing it out in the 2016 presidential campaign.

It should be logical that we vote for a president and vice president belonging to the same team so that they can work together to lead this country of more than 100 million forward. A president would need all hands on deck in addressing this huge challenge.

But our Constitution allows us to mix and match, to pick a president from one party and select a VP from another, to fulfill whatever our desire is.

This practice seems to fit in our unruly multi-party system where bizarre tandems have emerged.

Cayetano, a Nacionalista Party member, is running with Rodrigo Duterte of PDP-Laban. Same with Marcos, who is also with the NP, choosing Miriam Defensor Santiago of the People’s Reform Party as running mate.

We even have an orphan VP candidate, Trillanes, who likewise belongs to the NP. A VP candidate running solo is unprecedented.

Of the 6 VP candidates, Leni Robredo  and Gregorio “Gringo” Honasan are running with their party mates.

Francis “Chiz” Escudero  has declared himself an independent candidate and teamed up with Grace Poe. He used to be a member of the Nationalist People’s Coalition

The debates, thus far, have helped shine a light on the 5 gentlemen and 1 lady.

The bottom line is: the VP we choose should stand for good governance, values public interest rather than self-interest, does not have an abiding sense of entitlement, is not beholden to vested interests, has no history of stealing, is worthy of our trust, and has shown leadership skills. – Rappler.com