De Castro ready to take over as president

Vice-President Noli de Castro has said he is prepared to take over as president.

He also added he does not foresee the ouster of President Gloria Arroyo who is currently beleaguered by many controversies.

"Yes, I am ready. I am a working president, but I I'm not thinking that [Arroyo's ouster] would happen," said de Castro.

When asked to comment on the observations that there are no strong moves yet for her ouster because there is no intelligent alternative yet for the opposition, de Castro said, "That is like saying there's no intelligent Filipino anymore."

Complaining about the effects of destabilisation against Arroyo, de Castro said, "We see the weakening of the peso against the dollar, the low turnout in the stock exchange. If I'm a foreigner I would also adopt a wait and see attitude to our economy."

De Castro also complained about the opposition, saying, "Sometimes what they are saying is not true."

"There are so many lies [coming from them] like their claim that my handlers are the ones stirring up trouble. I have no handlers. My handlers are the people," de Castro added.

Opposition leaders claimed that de Castro was also responsible for ongoing controversies that Arroyo is facing because once she is ousted, he will take over as president.

The opposition has also called for de Castro's resignation for having allegedly cheated in the 2004 polls. Senator Loren Legarda had filed an election protest last year, saying de Castro cheated her in the 2004 polls.

De Castro debunked the call of the opposition for snap elections, adding "the holding of polls 13 months after the 2004 polls would only hamper the government from acting on more pressing tasks at hand".

De Castro also supported the call for a congressional inquiry into the alleged wiretapped conversations of President Arroyo and Commission on Elections (Comelec) official, regarding efforts to rig the results of last year's polls.

"But the probe should focus on strengthening the law against wiretapping and not aimed at prosecuting anybody," said de Castro, adding, "The inquiry should only be in aid of legislation and not to foment destabilisation."

De Castro said he would not abandon President Arroyo despite allegations of poll fraud and charges of her family members linked to payoffs of gambling lords.