VICE President Noli de Castro yesterday
said he is willing to "listen" to groups seeking President
Arroyo’s ouster if he is approached.
"Pakikinggan ko muna sila, not outright
rejection," he said in an ambush interview in Malacañang.
However, he said no such group has
approached him.
He said he meets opposition lawmakers only
in certain functions, and greets them perfunctorily. He said
he and the opposition leaders have not talked formally.
"Hindi naman ganoon siguro sila
ka-desperado," he said.
He said he could not be offered the
presidency because "there is no vacancy."
De Castro has said he is "prepared" to take
over the presidency in case Arroyo, who is subject of renewed
ouster calls, leaves Malacañang. He said it is his
constitutional mandate to take over the presidency in case of
a vacancy.
The opposition and various sectoral groups which are wary
of a De Castro presidency have asked him to take a stand on
the allegations of corruption against Arroyo, which triggered
the ouster calls. – Regina Bengco
