Noli: I’ll serve well, faithfully

Vice President Noli de Castro vowed to serve the government "faithfully" and "well" after he was formally sworn into office yesterday by Chief Justice Hilario Davide in Cebu City.

He called on the opposition to accept the government’s offer of reconciliation so the country could unite and work for peace and progress.

"Ang inaugural speech ng Pangulo ay malinaw na mensahe para sa mga opisyal ng pamahalaan, para sa mga kababayan natin at para din sa mga nakatunggali namin sa pulitika na sana magkaisa tayo para sa bayang maunlad (The inaugural speech of the President is a clear message for government officials, for our countrymen and our political rivals. Let us all unite to make this country progressive)," De Castro told reporters in a chance interview at the Quirino Grandstand after President Arroyo’s speech, shortly before they flew to Cebu for their oath taking.

Former Vice President Teofisto Guingona, who did not attend the pre-inaugural rites, said the country’s new leaders must face the crisis that confronts the nation.

"What is vital is not the ceremony but how the
President and the Vice President will discharge their respective functions. A restive nation should watch and remain vigilant," Guingona said.

He said that it was not an unfitting gesture on his part that he was not able to attend the traditional event because his presence in the inauguration was not really necessary.

He said De Castro called on him on Monday and it was in effect a formal turnover of the vice presidency.

Guingona advised De Castro to have "good chemistry" with the President, who formulates the policy, determines appointments and helps in the implementation of good policies.

He also emphasized to his successor that he should inform the President about her bad policies, give his own views "but not in public in order not to create a sense of disunity and hold on to his beliefs."

Meanwhile, former President Fidel Ramos also gave his unsolicited advice to Mrs. Arroyo yesterday. "She should be able to consolidate, continue the reforms and the gains, compete in order to win, and clean up the mess in the government," Ramos said.

For her part, Sen. Miriam Defensor-Santiago told Mrs. Arroyo to "reinvent" herself since she assumed the remaining three years of deposed President Joseph Estrada’s term and now she has another six years in office.

"The public gets fatigued with the Arroyo presidency. She should be able to reinvent herself," Santiago said, promising the President that she will be her ally in the next six years. "Absolutely, I’ll be a faithful and loyal ally for six years."

Santiago also stressed that she is certain the opposition will fail in challenging the results of the May 10 election. "They (opposition) will fail. What the opposition wants is to pursue their personal agenda of coming to power and overthrowing a person who has just taken her oath as President. Today, that’s impossible to achieve legally," she said.

Albay Rep. Jose Salceda said all the priority programs of the President as enumerated by her, like balancing the budget and mass housing, all require efficient tax collection.

"The six-point pro-poor program like housing requires funding and you’ve to collect taxes. She needs the cooperation of Congress and the people," Salceda said.

Former Batanes congressman Florencio Abad said the President’s speech was very typical of her — very direct, simple and sharp.

"She delivered the message very concretely. That’s what the people expect her to do," Abad said.