A president ‘preferably of legal mind’ and honest

Philippine Daily Inquirer / 12:01 AM October 17, 2014

To my mind, all things being equal in our country, our president and chief executive, aside from being truly honest and courageous, should be well-educated and, preferably, of legal mind. I have come to this conclusion after having experienced and further studied the affairs of government for almost seven decades. I sincerely feel that the frequent bungling of the Aquino administration after more than four years at the helm of government—as reported by the media—must come to an end.

I am afraid that the present national leadership lacks sufficient knowledge to realize the legal implications arising from our daily government activities which have direct impact on our society. The highly suspicious and scandalous circumstances which attended the Corona impeachment case, resulting in the sudden unprecedented removal of the chief justice from office, was indeed remarkable.

Since the proclamation of our republic by Gen. Emilio Aguinaldo, we already have had several presidents—Manuel L. Quezon during the Commonwealth period, Jose P. Laurel during the Japanese occupation; and after World War II, Manuel Roxas, Elpidio Quirino, Ramon Magsaysay, Carlos P. Garcia, and Diosdado Macapagal. In 1965, we elected Ferdinand Marcos who was reelected in 1969 and declared martial law in September 1972.

After Marcos, we had Corazon Aquino, Fidel Ramos, Joseph Estrada, Gloria Macapagal Arroyo and now Benigno S. Aquino III.

For a better Philippines, God willing, may our country be governed by truly respectable leaders.

—ARTURO M. TOPACIO JR., Cavite City

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