‘Friends’ start flocking to Noli

DAVAO CITY – Vice President Noli de Castro is finding himself with more friends these days.

"Friends" are reportedly flocking to De Castro in anticipation of the possibility that he would assume power if President Arroyo is eased out of office because of recent scandals.

"It is understandable with what is happening these days. There are few people who come our way and it seems the number of our friends have increased. And who are we to reject new friends?" said Jessie Andres, De Castro’s chief of staff, during an interview at the Marco Polo Hotel here.

He explained there were those who are making their presence felt and made sure the Vice President knows them.

"It is funny because the Vice President really does not have that much resources even in terms of machinery during the last elections. And now friends have started to come around," he said.

These so-called friends reportedly come from both sides of the political fence while others seemed more neutral.

But Andres was also quick to point out the Vice President is one less headache for Mrs. Arroyo as De Castro has also vowed not to support any move to oust her through illegal means even if the situation would mean his benefiting from it being the next in line.

"It is true that the Vice President is ready to assume (office) whatever happens to the President. But as of now, he believes in her and he has complete trust and confidence in her. He would never take advantage of the opportunity that the present situation appears to offer," Andres added.

The Vice President, Andres said, is urging that constitutional processes should be followed in proving the allegations against the Arroyo administration.

"The Vice President is not part of the destabilization. In fact, he is the stabilizer," he stressed.

"The President is so fortunate to have Kabayan (de Castro) as vice president because he is not plotting to oust her. What Mrs. Arroyo has in him is a partner in governance. She has no problem with him," Andres said.

He explained that the Vice President has not allowed the present political maneuverings to hinder his work as chairman of the Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council.

"He doesn’t see the political maneuverings as an obstacle for him to implement the various housing projects which (are) more important," Andres said. Andres visited the city to confer with local housing officials.

He added that the Vice President has continued to discharge his functions as the government’s housing czar and not be distracted even a bit by the mounting calls for Mrs. Arroyo to resign due to wiretapped conversations detailing election fraud, among other alleged shady deals.