Illustrated by: Vian Clinch Leybag
Being a President is the most difficult and complicated position in the world because a President holds the future of a country and its people in their hands but why does such a significant job require such minimal qualifications?
Article 7 Section 2 of the 1987 Constitution: No person may be elected President unless he is a natural-born citizen of the Philippines, a registered voter, able to read and write, at least forty years of age on the day of the election, and a resident of the Philippines for at least ten years immediately preceding such election.
Basically, any adult Filipino citizen can run as long as the category fits. It’s easy for anyone to be involved. As a consequence, the risk of electing the wrong president rises. It’s safer to have strict qualifications.
Should age and citizenship be enough?
Like any other job, before they can serve, they must have years of experience, practice, and even a license. Would people trust an unlicensed doctor? A teacher who did not complete his or her education? An engineer who failed his or her board exam?
Same for the presidency; note that the future of millions of citizens, as well as the nation itself, is at stake. Demand more in the constitution, revise the qualification.
In 2018, a revised 1987 Constitution was filed to the senate, including in the amendment is an addition of requirements for the presidency but senate leaders are not keen on tackling the proposal even though the bill was approved in the Lower House.
Their reason is simply because there is no time.
“Because of time constraint, I really doubt that we will be able to consider it,” said Senate President Sotto.
Why still stick to the outdated constitution when the world is vastly changing? There is nothing wrong with updating it. Shortcutting the system should no longer be an option.
It is time for the Philippines to do what the forefathers did not: demand more, demand better.
Filipinos can’t afford to suffer for years again; do not compromise the future.
It is difficult to impeach someone who has already been seated. As prevention,
the Philippines must add more criteria for becoming a national leader such as "Should a candidate be subjected to psychological tests in order to assess mental competence?".
The country doesn't need a joker, high-ego leader anymore.
A psychological report on Rodrigo Duterte funded by Dr. Natividad Dayan found that Duterte suffered from “antisocial narcissistic personality disorder”.
It’s a pattern of abnormality defined by "gross indifference, insensitivity and self-centeredness" and "grandiose sense of self-entitlement and manipulative behaviours".
He was found to readily engage in “unhealthy and destructive behaviours” and had “poor capacity for objective judgement,” failing to “see things in the light of facts”. (Samuels, 2016)
Can a candidate's moral conduct, such as alleged sexual assault or outlandish off-the-bus conversations, be taken into account?
Kissing someone who isn't his spouse? Is it appropriate to curse on national television?
Dr. Dayan stated in court that Duterte was “psychologically incapacitated to handle essential marital obligations”, due to his “inability for loyalty and commitment” and “lack of capacity for remorse and guilt.
Age doesn’t mean maturity. It should be a prerequisite to have a mentally healthy President.
Furthermore, the government is not an entertainment. No need for actors!
More than education, the next president should be mentally and morally strong. May this time be the last lesson. The power is in your hands.
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