Vice presidential aspirant Senator Francis "Kiko" Pangilinan said he would not touch the 1987 Constitution to give the vice president more power or responsibility even though the post is considered a spare tire if something happens to the sitting president.

Pangilinan made the statement during the PiliPinas Debates 2022 hosted by the Commission on Elections (Comelec) on Saturday, March 20.

During the first round of the debate, the candidates were asked for their opinion about possible amendments in the 1987 Constitution to give the vice president more responsibilities aside from being a "spare tire" to take over the presidency if the position is vacated.

According to Pangilinan, he would not change the Constitution to give the vice president more responsibilities.

"Ako po ay naniniwala na sapat na yung ating Saligang Batas sa usapin ng kapangyarihan na maaaring ibigay sa vice president (I believe the Constitution is enough when it comes to the powers of the vice president)," he said.

"Nasa vice president na 'yon kung paano niya gagamitin ang posisyon at kapangyarihan para makatulong sa ating mga kababayan (It's up to the vice president how would he use his position to help the people)," he added.

He said his running mate Vice President Leni Robredo is the proof that the vice president can do so much even without a specific role in the Constitution, noting how she addressed the Covid-19 pandemic.

"Nakita natin 'yan sa naging kilos at naging trabaho ng ating Vice President Leni Robredo lalo na rito sa Covid response. Siya ang unang opisina ng gobyerno na nakapagbigay ng PPEs sa mga frontliners natin sa iba't ibang parte ng ating bansa (We saw how Vice President Robredo responded to the pandemic. Her office was the first in government to give personal protective equipment to the frontliners in different parts of the country)," Pangilinan said.

"Samu't sari ang naging intervention ni Vice President Leni para tumulong at hanapan ng solusyon sa loob ng dalawang taon yung problema sa Covid. Nandiyan yung suporta sa frontliners, nandiyan yung shuttle service, nariyan yung e-Konsulta, at marami pang iba (Over the past two years, the Vice President made many interventions to resolve the pandemic. She had programs to support the frontliners like the shuttle service. The e-Konsulta is there, among others)," he added.

Pangilinan likewise does not think that giving the vice president a Cabinet position should be a requirement in the Constitution.

"I don't think it's necessary... The power of appointment is an executive power. In this case, it's the president's prerogative kung gusto niyang bigyan ng posisyon ang sinuman sa kanyang Gabinete (if he wants to give anybody a Cabinet post)," he said.

"Kinakailangan, siyempre, komportable siya. Mahirap naman dahil sinabi ng Saligang Batas eh kinakailangang i-appoint. Kung hindi magkasundo, magkakaroon ng problema (What's important is he's comfortable with that person. It would be difficult to give someone a post just because the Constitution says so. If they're not compatible, there would be a problem)," he added.

Tandem voting

If there's one thing Pangilinan would change in the Constitution, it is allowing tandem voting wherein the vote for the president is the same as the vice president, effectively electing both individuals in the said posts.

"Sinasang-ayunan ko na dapat tandem. Hindi maaaring ibang kapartido (I agree that it should be in tandem. They cannot be from different parties)," he said.

"ara nagtutulungan, para mayroong pagkakaisa, para kumpleto ang plano sa umpisa pa lamang at hindi nagkakaroon ng anumang bangayan (So they can work together in unity and have concrete plans from the very beginning and not have conflicts)," he added.