He had arrived more than two hours late. If he had not come he was certain to have become even more conspicuous by his absence with his seat empty while the one beside it was filled brightly by Vice President Leni Robredo, who is commanded by the Constitution to succeed him once he becomes incapacitated. He just had to drag himself up and go; he would certainly be afraid to leave the presidency to the leader of an opposition that his regime not only emasculated but persecuted.