De Castro: I’m not an option

Perturbed by discussions about his political fate under the embattled Arroyo administration, Vice President Noli de Castro declared yesterday that he is "not an option" who could be given a deadline to decide whether to remain with the administration or join the opposition.

Speaking at a private market in Barangay Karuhatan in Valenzuela City yesterday, De Castro said his loyalty is to the Constitution, which requires him to assume the presidency in the event that President Arroyo steps down or is otherwise removed from office.

"I am not an option, at hindi nila ako dapat bigyan ng (and they should not give me a) deadline," he said. "I’ll answer you when I get there. Sinasabi ng Saligang Batas (The Constitution requires that) the vice president must take over."

De Castro, who was at the market to monitor prices of basic commodities before the controversial expanded value-added tax law takes effect, said Congress must first amend the Constitution before any snap election could be held.

"Ilagay muna nila sa Saligang Batas (They must place it first in the Constitution)," he said, referring to snap elections.

De Castro asked those calling for Mrs. Arroyo to step down to think of the people’s welfare at this critical juncture in the nation’s history.

"Ang mapangalagaan ang kapakanan ng bayan at suportahan ang programa ng pamahalaan, iyan na muna ang ating gawin (We must first take care of the nation’s interest and support the government’s programs)," he said.

"If they (proponents of snap election) disregard the Constitution, I should remind them that they are disregarding the voice of the majority of our people who respect and abide by the Constitution," he said.

Earlier, several groups such as the Black & White Movement, the Makati Business Club and those aligned with former President Corazon Aquino said they are considering De Castro as an option to replace Mrs. Arroyo, apprently in anticipation of the President’s eventual resignation or ouster from office.

Asked if he was being pressured in any way by the Black & White Movement led by Susan Roces, widow of actor and defeated presidential candidate Fernando Poe Jr., and Makati Mayor Jejomar Binay, De Castro said he refused to be affected by politics because it would not do the country any good.

"Hindi ko pinapansin ang pulitika. Magtrabaho na lang tayo para sa ikagaganda ng buhay ng ating mga kababayan (I will not concern myself with politics. Let us just work for the betterment of the life of our countrymen)," he said.

On the prices of basic goods, De Castro said he was pleased that the prices of fish and meat were generally stable, and that the cost of vegetables had dropped over the past three weeks.

He was glad that he found no defective weighing scales, he added.

However, De Castro said he was sorry that most meat being sold at the market lacked price tags in violation of the law, and that most stalls did not display the required permit from the National Meat Inspection Authority.

During De Castro’s market visit, a surprised meat vendor gave conflicting prices for a kilo of pork, which he had sold the previous day and yesterday.

First, the vendor said a kilo of pork sold for P150, but later changed it to P140, and then P145.

On the other hand, trade and industry officials accompanying De Castro ordered a dry goods store to explain why it was overpricing its wares.

If the owners fail to give a justification, they could be fined and their license and permits to operate revoked by the Department of Trade and Industry and the Valenzuela City government.

Accompanying De Castro were DTI officials led by Secretary Peter Favila and Undersecretary Zenaida Maglaya.

They toured the market starting at 7 a.m. yesterday.