Retired Senior Associate Justice Antonio Carpio and head of opposition coalition ‘1Sambayan’ said that Senator Manny Pacquiao lacks the competence and qualities to become the next President.
Carpio said this in an interview when asked why the coalition didn’t consider the boxer turned senator.
“As congressman, Pacquiao was the No. 1 absentee, he was the top notcher in absences in Congress. As a senator, he again topped, he was No. 1 in absences,” Carpio told ABS-CBN.
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“So that basic qualification — competence — is not there,” Carpio added.
The former magistrate said that while Pacquiao has a good heart, they are looking for a leader who can handle the pandemic better.
“Manny Pacquiao may have a good heart and we know that. But running a country of 110 million population requires competence. We should understand that we have to look for a leader who has competence, who can revive the economy, who can generate employment for the people, who can solve this pandemic,” Carpio said.
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“We cannot have a president who is absent. When there is a task you cannot be absent,” he added.
Carpio said that Pacquiao already supported some of the administration’s current controversial policies.
“He has supported the war on drugs and he has stated that in the Senate. He is also for the death penalty although he quotes the Bible. So, It will be difficult for us to consider him,” Carpio added. (TDT)
