CAN irresponsibility catapult a candidate to the Senate? I am asking this because of people saying that the reason Rep. Alan Peter Cayetano performed well in a recent survey on senatorial hopefuls is because of his accusations against First Gentleman Mike Arroyo. The spin is that by responding to the tirades, Arroyo made Cayetano popular.
If that analysis is correct, then I pity this country. Cayetano hurled the claim months ago that Arroyo and his family secretly held accounts in a German bank. Since then, and amidst prodding from the First Gentleman, Cayetano, who is a lawyer, has not been able to show proof to support his accusation. That?s the height of irresponsibility.
And that irresponsibility will be his ticket to the Senate? I am not impressed by Cayetano, whose noise as an oppositionist can be likened to the sound of an empty can. He is young and looks good. But he does not have the substance of a Francis Escudero. But he may yet join his sister Pia in the Senate—no thanks to some of our voters.
Talking of voters, they may yet allow boxing icon Manny Pacquiao to hold public office—mayor or governor, whichever post he will eventually choose to run for. With his popularity, who do you think can defeat Pacquiao in an election? That does not mean, however, that his winning will be good for his constituents or the country in general.
I don?t have any problem with Pacquiao still trying to get a high school diploma from the Department of Education. Education is not a guarantee that a candidate will end up becoming a good public servant. Besides, Pacquiao is targeting an executive, not a legislative post, which needs special learning. He can be a good mayor or governor.
What worries me are these: one, he can?t be a boxer and a government official at the same time (when he trains, he has to leave his post); second, he lacks discipline (he plays billiards overnight and cancels scheduled appointments); third, he is easily swayed by people around him (he signed contracts left and right on the urgings of his advisers).
Those are not the qualities that a public servant should possess to be able to serve well. Either Pacquiao will suffer or his constituents will suffer or both. Imagine Pacquiao leaving his government post to train or failing to report early because of lack of sleep for playing billiards. Or worse, signing defective contracts for government projects.
