Qualification not popularity is key, says Drilon

Senate President Franklin Drilon. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

Senate President Franklin Drilon urged the public on Tuesday to look at the qualifications and not just the ratings of a candidate in choosing the country’s next leader.
Drilon, vice chair of the Liberal Party, is rooting for Interior Secretary Mar Roxas as his party’s possible standard-bearer in 2016. But Roxas is not faring well in pre-election surveys compared to Vice President Jejomar Binay.

Binay has consistently topped surveys even though his lead has steadily declined in recent polling with Senator Grace Poe closing in on him.

Unlike Binay, who has declared his presidential bid, Roxas and Poe have yet to make public declarations whether or not to join the presidential derby.

“Mayroong sapat na panahon para matingnan natin yung kwalipikasyon ng susunod na pangulo ng ating bansa,” (There is enough time to examine the qualifications of the next president of the country) Drilon said in a radio interview.

He added, “Para sa akin, ang titingnan natin yung background – kung iyon ay karapat-dapat mamuno sa ating bansa.” (For me, we should look at the background, whether [the candidate] is worthy to lead the nation.)

According to him, ratings only show the “perception of the public for a particular period,” which he called “electability for a particular period.”

Drilon earlier called on the government to intensify its voters’ education campaign, saying the next leader should have a good record.