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| Miriam Santiago endorses Manuel V. Pangilinan for 2016 Presidential |
Senator Miriam Santiago says of the business
tycoon: 'People like him should be in government, not those from highly publicized careers' IDEAL
CANDIDATE? Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago endorses businessman Manuel V.
Pangilinan for president at her speech in the University of the Philippines.
Photo by Adrian Portugal/Rappler
MANILA,
Philippines – After heading utility, telecommunication, and media companies,
should tycoon Manuel V. Pangilinan lead the Philippines as well?
Senator
Miriam Defensor Santiago used her leadership talk at a Maynilad event to crack
water jokes, and to endorse the chairman of the water services company for
president in 2016.
Using
her trademark punchlines, Santiago said that Filipinos must choose leaders
based on merit and not just mass appeal. It was at this point that she
mentioned Pangilinan, who was in the audience to hear her speak at the
University of the Philippines.
“I want
you to think about Mr Manny Pangilinan as president of the Philippines,” she
said on Wednesday, March 25.
Responding
to Santiago's speech, Pangilinan told reporters that he was not sure if the
senator was just joking.
“I
respect her opinion. That is her opinion but it is not mine,” Pangilinan said.
Before
Santiago's speech, the lawmaker met with Pangilinan for about 20 minutes at a
holding room. Pangilinan said they did not discuss politics.
Santiago
devoted the length of her speech to motivating Maynilad employees to practice
“self-leadership” and excellence. She again mentioned Pangilinan as she wrapped
up her talk.
“Sabi ni
Mr Pangilinan sapat ang tubig sa summer. Ang shortage ay
sa kuryente. Eh 'di ilagay natin siya doon (Mr Pangilinan said we have
enough water for the summer. The shortage is with power. Then let us put him
there)," she said.
Ironically,
Pangilinan is also chairman of the power distributor Manila Electric Company
(Meralco).
Last
year, Pangilinan was also rumored to be the possible running mate of Vice
President Binay. Yet the businessman said he was not interested in public
office.
“I’m not
thinking of that. I’m more focused on the businesses here and in other parts of
Asia,” Pangilinan, was quoted as saying."
'Just
thinking aloud'
In a
press briefing after her speech, Santiago said her quip was an endorsement of
Pangilinan.
“People
like him should be in government, not those from highly publicized careers.
People from mass media are blinded on the qualifications for public
office.”
She
added: “I'm just thinking aloud to young people what type of candidate I have
in mind. Maybe we can have a survey on the Internet.”
Asked if
the endorsement meant she was not interested in higher office, Santiago said
the presidency is just one option but is not necessarily the end goal of all
those rumored to be aspiring for the post.
She
again discussed her ideal president. “My qualification is the president must be
honest, have professional excellence, academic excellence.”
Santiago
reiterated her call to amend the constitutional requirement for those running
for president, vice president, and senator. She wants the provision to include
a college degree as a requirement. (READ: Miriam: Don't let idiots run for president)
“Biruin
mo, ang pulis dapat college graduate. Ang presidente at senador, read and
write lang? (Imagine, a policeman must be a college graduate.
But a president or senator is only required to know how to read and
write)."
She said
that educating the masses is necessary to improve the quality of public
officials.
“Kaya
nagiging korap ang leader kasi walang moral character dahilan
sa kulang ang edukasyon. This starts with voter education (A leader
becomes corrupt because he or she has no moral character because of lack of
education)."
'A
president must listen to criticism'
In her
leadership speech, Santiago made an obvious reference to President Benigno
Aquino III.
“'Yun ang problema
sa mga presidente ng Pilipinas; nagiging obsolete. Unang
taon, enjoy. Akala nila totoong matalino sila, ang yabang na.
Kaya lahat ng presidente bagsak 'pag malapit na matapos ang termino nila kasi
naniniwala sa chuchuwa nila at nagagalit pag pinipintasan. 'Di dapat ganun!”
(That's
the problem with presidents of the Philippines; they become obsolete. On their
first year, they enjoy popularity. They think they are such intelligent leaders
and become arrogant. That's why the popularity of all presidents goes down
towards the end of their term because they believe their aides, and get mad
when they are criticized. It shouldn't be that way!)
It was a
reference to how Aquino handled major controversies in office, with critics
saying he tends to listen to close allies and friends but is peeved with
constructive criticism.
Santiago
also criticized her rival, former Senator Panfilo Lacson, for supposedly
positioning for president. She questioned a full-page ad on the Philippine
Daily Inquirer where former generals endorsed Lacson and Senator Grace
Poe as presidential and vice presidential bets in 2016.
Santiago
said that the ad “comes from them.”
“A
full-page ad is too expensive to express casual opinion It's not like they have
experience working together. It makes you suspicious. This is grumbling for
2016. This is the start of [Lacson's] campaign as a veteran candidate."
Santiago
urged voters to stop voting leaders because of their celebrity status or
popularity.
“Ang
mga presidentiable laging may papel sa sine na sila
nagtatanggol sa mga api (Presidential candidates are always portrayed
on movies as defending the abused).We have to distinguish between what is real,
and what is not."
Santiago
summed up her message by turning philosophical: “Leadership is the modern
equivalent of Socrates' command: 'Know thyself.'”
“What is
it you want for the Philippines in 2016? Why hold elections if there will be no
change?” – Rappler.com
Source +Rappler
Tagged: +Rappler
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