Vice President Manuel “Noli” De Castro finally broke his silence as he took a stab at those who derided his capacity to lead the country amid calls for President Arroyo to step down after she filed her certificate of candidacy for representative of her home province, Pampanga.

“Rather than cast doubt on Constitutional succession, those who question my capability should perhaps look at the mirror first to see what they have done for their constituents,” De Castro said in a statement.

The statement was made in answer to the question posed by Quezon Rep. Danilo Suarez at Thursday’s Serye forum in Quezon City: Do you want Vice President Noli de Castro to lead the country while the economy is in the doldrums?

Suarez’s declaration was made apparently to defuse the impact of mounting calls for Arroyo to step down as president.

“Assuming she would have to resign — I’m not belittling the capacity of Vice President De Castro [to take up the reins of government] — we’re now facing a recession, bank run, collapse of financial giants. I think Vice President De Castro would have a problem in confronting these issues,” Suarez said.

De Castro, however, downplayed the doubts aired by Suarez and cited his credentials in politics.

“I have been with the Cabinet for almost six years, and I have been a senator for three years and in public service for decades as a veteran in news and public affairs,” De Castro said.

“I am the vice president and I have a constitutional duty that I swore to perform. Recession or not, that duty remains,” he stressed.

Earlier, former President Fidel Ramos urged Arroyo to resign as Chief Executive of the Republic after she formally filed her certificate of candidacy for representative of the 2nd district of Pampanga.

Ramos argued that since she is still the sitting president, she will not be able to fulfill her duties faithfully and conscientiously ea as Chief Executive, considering that she is also running for an elective post.

Political pundits also urged President Arroyo to take a leave of absence and let Vice President De Castro assume the presidency until a new president is proclaimed after the May 10, 2010 elections.

Opposition Senator Pia S. Cayetano for her part said allies of Mrs. Arroyo should refrain from unfairly using De Castro as a punching bag every time public calls mount for the resignation of the President.

“Vice President Noli de Castro was elected to his post by the Filipino people. He is the constitutional successor to the President in the improbable scenario that Mrs. Arroyo suddenly decides to resign out of delicadeza after casting her candidacy for a congressional seat in Pampanga,” she said.

“Many times in the past, the Vice President has been the favorite punching bag of Mrs. Arroyo’s apologists whenever calls mount for her to step down, including at the height of the Hello Garci controversy, the NBN-ZTE scandal and now, after filing her candidacy to run for a lower position,” said Cayetano, Chairperson of the Senate Committee on Social Justice.

“So why not give Noli a chance to prove his worth and run the country, even in the last days of this regime? They’ve insulted and belittled his position and capabilities too far.”

“Unlike Mrs. Arroyo, Vice President De Castro was never involved nor linked to corruption scandals, extrajudicial killings and massacres, the very issues that have hounded this administration in the last nine years.”

She added that unlike Arroyo, de Castro has decided not to run for any position in next year’s elections, thus making him an ideal “transitional leader” until the reigns of government is handed over to the next President.

Mrs. Arroyo for her part assured a “smooth transition” of government when she steps down in June 30 next year, as she also pledged to keep the economy afloat in the remaining months of her administration.

At the awarding ceremonies of the Bagong Bayani and Galing Pook Awards, the President vowed her government’s persistent pursuit of orderly and peaceful elections in May 2010, particularly in the troubled southern Philippines.

“We must never loose sight of the importance of growing our economy, providing peace and security and more than ever ensuring peaceful elections and a smooth transition that the gains of the last eight years will be locked in and our nation will remain strong,” Mrs. Arroyo said, addressing recipients of the Bagong Bayani and Galing Pook awards.

“Kailangan magkaisa tayo upang magdala sa ating pamayanan ng kabutihan, hindi pananakit o pagbibintang. We must put aside our differences, be they personal or political and I say this as a critical time in our nation’s history, as we prepare for the elections next year,” the Chief Executive said.

Press Secretary Cerge Remonde described the fears of her critics that the President will covet the title of Prime Minister once the charter change takes place as irrational.

“These fears are unreasonable, they are just creating their own ghosts, but they are afraid of their own creation,” he said.

He maintained that there is no legal impediment that would hamper the President from seeking the congressional post.

During her speech, the President also paid tribute to “unsung heroes”, including the farmers, nurses, taxi drivers and the overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) who have helped the government keep the economy afloat and move the nation forward.

At the ceremony held at Malacañang’s Rizal Hall, the President conferred the Blas Ople-Award para sa Natatanging Bagong Bayani to 39-year old Engr. Mary Jane Al Mahdi, who also bagged the Most Outstanding Employee award.

Apart from Al Mahdi, Manuel Perito Jr., Antonio Albastro, Engrs. Murry Demdam and Robert Ramos also received the Most Outstanding Employee award.

Rebenson Recaña, Engr. Domingo Borja Jr. and Maria Josela Zamora were recipients of the Bagong Bayani Award for Community and Social Service. Dioscoro Uy-Ayag Jr., on the other hand, was awarded for his valuable contribution in the field of culture and arts.

Among the groups of seafarers who also received recognition for their heroic acts in saving other’s lives while on duty at sea are Filipino crew of MV Asia Bridge, MT Chemway Lara, MT Lotus Gas, MV JP Gunjo, MV Agility and MV Loannis K. (With reports from Rolly T. Carandang and Charissa M. Luci)