Pacquiao needs more boning-up for presidency

If indeed Rep. Emmanuel Pacquiao plans to run for president of the republic (“Pacquiao running for president in 2022, says Arum,” Front Page, 5/1/15), I suggest that he first run for senator in the May 2016 elections. This is important since most, if not all, of those who were elected presidents of the Philippines brought to the position ample knowledge and understanding of public administration.

For one thing, the entire voting population will rally behind him because he has brought honor to the country. For another, his wealth is hard-earned, amassed from the extraordinary hard work and discipline that catapulted him to boxing titles in eight divisions; and he is a philanthropist.

Not only that, Pacman, as he is fondly called by his peers and contemporaries, is incorruptible. And though handicapped in spoken English, he can surround himself with professional advisers, one of them hired precisely to write eloquent and moving speeches for him, just like what some of our previous presidents who were not proficient in the English language did.

On the other hand, he may excel in good governance, rid this country of graft and corruption and usher in radical change. His loss to Floyd Mayweather by “unanimous decision,” which I could hardly believe, may diminish his popularity. I am only a boxing enthusiast but this I can say: Running inside the ring like what Mayweather did is different from running as a candidate for senator.

At any rate, Pacquiao can now best serve his constituents in his district and later run for senator, which would entail a nationwide campaign. Since the required minimum age of a candidate for president is 40 years old, considering that he would just be 36 years old by the elections in May 2016, he can serve as senator in the meanwhile. And while in the Senate, Pacman can have a tutorial in English and parliamentary procedures so that he can join and will not miss a beat on the Senate deliberations and debates on important legislation meant to benefit the less fortunate among our people.

—GODOFREDO O. PETEZA SR., JP Rizal Street, Barangay Camambugan, Daet, Camarines Norte