Allow me to comment briefly on the news item “Miriam: Next president could be any of four female senators” (Second Front Page, 3/13/14).
In the first place, in electing the leaders, president and vice president in a democratic society, the gender equality factor only plays, if at all, a minor role.
To illustrate by way of example: I think it is a stretch to compare the brands of leadership—and time frames during the presidencies—of Manuel L. Quezon, Ramon Magsaysay and Ferdinand Marcos with those of/during the present administration, or Cory Aquino and Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.
While I believe that Sen. Miriam Defensor-Santiago, with a brilliant legal mind, coupled with a remarkable independent intellect, has already demonstrated herself to be fearless and uncompromising, I beg to disagree with her opinion favoring any of the four lady senators to be the next president of our country.
—ARTURO M. TOPACIO JR.,
Topacio Law Office, Cavite City