Sunday, January 24, 2010

Enrile can not become “acting president”, PGMA will!

ENRILE CAN NOT BECOME “ACTING PRESIDENT”: “Much ado about nothing” is how I will want to describe the Inquirer January 24, 2010 headline “Enrile urged to stop down from top Senate post”.

The truth is that, if there is really going to be a failure of elections in May 2010 where Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile will supposedly be catapulted as “acting president”, it is going to be President Arroyo who will be president, and no other.

In other words, if there is going to be a failure of elections in May, President Arroyo will continue in her job as a “hold-over” president. Enrile cannot become “acting president”.

I already wrote about this matter in previous columns, and I need not belabour my points on the matter again. But let me reiterate the scenario again: if there will be a failure of elections in May 2010, no new president, no new vice president, no new senators or new congressmen will be elected and will assume office by noon of June 30, 2010.

Since there will be no new president or vice president if there will be a failure of elections by that time, the rule on presidential succession is supposed to take place, so that, under that rule, either the new Senate president, or the new Speaker of the House of Representatives shall become the “acting president”.

-ooo-

PGMA WILL BECOME ACTING PRESIDENT IF...: But then, if there is going to be a failure of elections in May 2010, there will be no new Senators or new Congressmen who will constitute a quorum, to enable them to elect a new Senate president or a new Speaker.

There being no new Senate president, and no new Speaker, everybody will be required to continue with the positions being held by them prior to the elections, and this holds true even for the incumbent President and Vice President.

We must remember, in this regard, that the 1987 Constitution itself is very clear: the “old” President and Vice President (and in fact, all the other officials of the land, including our senators and congressmen) are required to continue discharging their duties and responsibilities until their supposed successors shall have qualified and entered into their respective offices.

When there are no successors that shall have qualified and entered into their duties and responsibilities, the “old” holders of the positions are required by law to continue serving, in a hold-over capacity. That is what is going to happen in June 30, 2010---Gloria will remain president---if there is a failure of elections.

-ooo-

CRUCIFIXION AND DEATH OF JESUS: The final mystery in the “Sorrowful Mysteries” of the Holy Rosary of Roman Catholic Christians is the “Crucifixion and Death of Jesus.” As this statement suggests, it is an account of how Jesus died through crucifixion.

               In Matthew, it can be found in its Chapter 27, verses 33 to 61. In Mark, it is written in its Chapter 15, verses 22 to 47, while in Luke, this story is told in its Chapter 23, verses 32 to 56. In John, it is narrated in its Chapter 19, verses 18 to 42.
               Despite its obvious defeatist stance because it portrays the death of Jesus, the “Crucifixion and Death of Jesus” actually represents a glorious victory for the Son of God and for all those who believe in Him. 
               For this “death” is no death all. It is a victorious fulfillment of what Jesus had been saying all along, that He was going to die in the hands of sinners, so that the Scriptures will be fulfilled.
               Then, this death was a necessary process, as it were, so that sins could be forgiven, and its actual happening, in the full view of witnesses, confirms God’s forgiveness of everyone who believes in Jesus and for those who repent and turn from their wicked ways.
               The death of Jesus, therefore, signals a “defeat”, yes, but it is a defeat of sin and wickedness, and the triumph of God’s great love for man.
 
                                                             -30-

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