THESE days, we dimly believe that the vice president position is irrelevant and largely decorative — but make no mistake, the office is necessary. For one thing, a president's mortality is a consideration, so it is wise to choose an able heir-apparent for the sake of continuity. We all know the essentials of a useful presidential spare tire: one who must be supportive of the president and not dare oppose the chief. Then as now, to criticize a popular president is too risky, and the electorate tends to look at it unfavorably. But not in the case of Doy Laurel. He was not the typical do-nothing and say-nothing "superfluous excellency" — he vowed not to be a passive one.
If you are looking for a decisive moment in our contemporary history and a turning point that sealed the fate of the martial law regime, the Laurel narrative is sure to pique your interest. I daresay Laurel was quite one of the most endearing Filipino statesmen that our nation has produced. No doubt about it. However, it is in his role as the first post-EDSA VP where much of the gray area lies.
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