Wanted: Experienced and trustworthy President
NOT ONE BUT TWO VIRTUES
LINGAYEN—Vice President Jejomar Binay said the country needs an experienced leader to lead the country. Senator Grace Poe said what is needed is an honest official.
But Senate Majority Leader Alan Peter Cayetano said there could be someone (a presidential wannabe) who could be both, experienced and honest/faithful (matapat).
But Mr. Cayetano, who is likely among the presidential aspirants, however, told local reporters Wednesday – “It’s up to you to think who could be that one”.
“It’s not just one qualification…. It’s a combination of values and vision,” he said when he was guest in the 1st National Fishery Producers’ Congress at the Sison Auditorium.
“Matapat sa Diyos, matapat sa tao, matapat sa sarili” (Faithful to God, faithful to the people, faithful to himself),” he said.
“Matapat is your (personal) interest versus the interest of the people who should be your priority,” he added.
Sen. Cayetano talks to local media.
Mr. Cayetano called on the people to get to know their preferred presidential candidate who would lead them in six years.
“Values because that would show if you’re honest, if you’re not corrupt and vision to determine where you are going to,” the senate majority leader added.
He said Filipinos become emotionally attached to a particular candidate because his campaign is exciting or he sees new hope in him/her. But they hardly know the person and they end up surprised about how that leader manages the affairs of the country after they had elected him/her.
He said to be fair to the millions of Filipinos who are not making it to the surveys, “many of them are capable but the problem is we only see the ability to win and not the ability to lead”.
“Part of the leadership is to show you have the ability to win,” he added.
Cayetano said “the problem in the Philippines does not start when one wins but it should start during the campaign period”.
He said he is pinning hopes on the newly- appointed chairman of the poll body and the new commissioners whom he described as very credible.
He said they should focus on reforms not only during the election day itself but on the campaign finances of candidates.
He said financial capability of a presidential aspirant should not be the determining factor so that the choices would not be confined only to four or five candidates.
Meanwhile, Cayetano said they are set to launch their I Believe Movement “composed of people who believe in the country, who believe in God, who believe we can change the system” in selecting leaders of the country.
“A lot of people don’t believe but if you want to change the nation, it should start in the campaign,” he said. (Tita Roces)
Share your Comments or Reactions
Powered by Facebook Comments
