MANILA, Philippines ? The next President should be like the late Corazon Aquino or Ramon Magsaysay who, as far as Manila Archbishop Gaudencio Cardinal Rosales is concerned, were the only ?outstanding? presidents the country has known.

Rosales said the late Presidents Aquino and Magsaysay possessed ?outstanding qualities,? citing their humility and simple way of life.

?Twice upon a time, God gave us examples of a good leader...President Magsaysay during the 1950s and President Aquino during the 1980s are the outstanding leaders we have had,? Rosales was quoted Monday by the in-house media arm of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines.

By pinpointing only Aquino and Magsaysay, the cardinal implied that all other presidents including President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo were not good leaders as far he was concerned.

Interviewed Monday, a day before the deadline for the filing of certificates of candidacy, Rosales said voters should choose as their next leaders those who could emulate Aquino and Magsaysay's leadership.

?We will not say anything as to who among the candidates would need the people?s support, but the first and foremost quality of a leader that deserves the people?s votes should be his or her fear of God,? said Rosales, who has been sparse in making political statements unlike his predecessor, the late Jaime Cardinal Sin.

He said one?s faithfulness to God could not be gauged by self-serving declarations of being a devout Catholic or by regularly attending mass.

?You can easily judge people who have fear of God in the way they talk, in their attitude, and their way of life,? said the cardinal, adding that leaders who are truly God-fearing would not do sinful things.

?Those who are corrupt have no right to hold public office,? he stressed.

The prelate said the primary issue that should be addressed by the country's next leaders is poverty.

?For sure, it is poverty that comes first before graft and corrupt practices,? he said.