A mere visit by Vice President Jejomar Binay to Saranggani province, which is the legislative district represented by Manny Pacquiao, sparked speculations that the boxing icon is being wooed by the would-be president to be the latter’s running mate in the 2016 presidential election.
To be sure, Binay knows that to be qualified to run for the positions of president and vice president, the candidates must at least be 40 years of age on the day of the election, as provided under Section 2, Article VII of the 1987 Constitution.
Having been born on Dec. 17, 1978, Pacquiao will only be 38 years old in 2016. Clearly, he is not yet qualified to run for vice president in 2016. He is, however, qualified to run for senator where the age qualification is at least 35 years of age on the day of the election as provided under Section 3, Article VI of the Constitution.
—ROMULO B. MACALINTAL,
election lawyer,
rbmacalintal@gmail.com