On vice presidential tantrums

There ought to be a school to train how vice presidents, vice governors, and vice mayors should behave, in relation to their respective presidents, governors, and mayors and to the nation as well. Their first lesson is to always keep in mind that they are mere spare tires. They should never outshine the top guy. They should keep their mouths shut and wait for their turn to shine.

The problem with Vice President Sara is that she always believed from day one that she was more qualified than BBM, that she got more votes than the president and that without her, Marcos would have lost to Leni Robredo. Her first and foremost problem is her ego, her self-righteousness, her superiority complex. Her number one enemy is herself. Her worst waterloo is her own tantrum, her impulsiveness, her lack of self-control, all of which are indicative of lack of maturity.

This vice president always feels that she is entitled to unlimited privileges, and that she should always have her way. She forgets that she is only number two. There is someone higher than herself. She demanded for the Department of National Defense, feeling qualified being a reserve colonel and a graduate of the National Defense College. But the president was smarter than her. Why would the commander-in-chief give up the defense portfolio to a prospective political rival? That started the irritation.

But she got a very good consolation prize, the department with the biggest budget and the biggest number of personnel, which is DepEd. The problem, however, is that the vice president is completely clueless about education. Her predecessors were holders of doctor of philosophy in education, graduates of Yale, Harvard, and Stanford and other Ivy League centers of education excellence. Inday Sara has never handled a class as an instructor, professor, or dean. And so, she bungled the job.

Her other problem is her apparently habitual fixation on confidential funds. She and her favorite underling Zuleika Lopez were reportedly dealing with intelligence and confidential funds. Davao City has allegedly had a notorious pattern of excessive fondness for such funds. The so-called intelligence funds of Davao City were much higher than the richest cities in the Philippines, Makati, QC, Manila, and Cebu City. Now that Congress is looking into her liquidation reports she goes into tantrums that lead her to say unpleasant things bordering on felonies and misdemeanors.

Her outbursts are obviously indicative of lack of calmness, lack of statesmanlike confidence, poise and, yes, utter lack of self-restraint. She displayed palpable behavioral patterns showing that she is not ready to lead a nation of 120 million people. She obviously lacks the strength of character and values which are qualities demanded of a national leader. How can she ever aspire to become president, head of state, and head of government if she cannot stand the pressures of criticisms and inquiry.

The vice president, by her rants and outbursts, has displayed before the Filipino people much indubitable evidence that former vice president Leni Robredo was much much better than her. Even vice presidents Jojo Binay and Noli de Castro were made of sterner stuff. There are many reasons that may lead us to conclude that this vice president is impulsive, reckless, immature, and even childish, with such behavioral patterns that indicate one clear conclusion: she is not ready to become president of the Philippines.

What a waste. I liked Inday Sara in the past for her being brave, feisty, daring and if I may add, pretty and personable. But she bungled everything. She is now my greatest disappointment. And I used to dislike BBM and Speaker Martin. I still do, by the way. But now, these trapos appear much better than her in many ways than one. In social grace and good manners, for instance.

The vice presidential tantrums have unmasked who the Dutertes really are, and who Sara really is. Sayang na sayang.