Noy hopes Duterte will follow constitutional succession, believes Leni can lead country

Former President Benigno Aquino III on Tuesday expressed hope that President Rodrigo Duterte will follow the Constitution on the issue of succession after he said he does not want Vice President Leni Robredo to replace him if ever he resigns.

"Kung aalis siya [sa puwesto], sino ba ang uupo bilang chief executive ng ating bansa? Ano ang mandato ng Constitution,” Aquino told reporters during the commemoration of the 35th death anniversary of his father, the late Senator Benigno "Ninoy" Aquino Jr.

Duterte has repeatedly said that he wants to resign but does not want Robredo to succeed him, belittling her capability to lead the country.

At one time, the President even said he prefers a military junta over Robredo and, in another instance, he said he will step down if defeated vice presidential candidate Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos would win his electoral protest against her.

Aquino said Duterte should let the Constitution work and leave out personalities.

"Sana 'yung Chief Executive na nagpapatupad ng lahat ng ating batas, isa na ang Saligang Batas, ang magsabi ng constitutional succession. Iwan na lang dun, kesa iwan sa personalities," he said.

Aquino expressed confidence that Robredo can lead the country, adding those who voted for her in 2016 share his opinion.

"I'm very confident that she can [lead the country] and siguro more importantly, imbes na opinyon ko, ‘yung opinyon ng bumoto sa kanya. Sa sistema natin, ang karapatan ay nagmumula sa mandatong ipinagkakaloob sa atin ng malayang nagdedesisyong mga Filipino,” he said.

“So ‘yun ang desisyon ng taumbayan, sabi ko nga noon pa ang boss ko ang taumbayan. Ano ang karapatan kong suwagin o kontrahin ang desiyon ng grupong may karapatang magbigay ng mandato,” the former President added. —Amita Legaspi/KBK, GMA News