Dick Gordon: I would have loved to run for president, but…

Richard “Dick” Gordon says those coming from poor families should someday be granted the opportunity to run for higher positions. YUJI VINCENT GONZALES/INQUIRER.net

Former senator and incumbent Philippine Red Cross Chairman Richard “Dick” Gordon is eyeing a return to the Senate after he filed his certificate of candidacy (COC) on Friday at the Commission on Elections (Comelec) headquarters in Intramuros, Manila.

Asked why he is not gunning for the presidency, Gordon, who ran for president in 2010 and senator in 2013 but lost in both elections, said he “would have loved to do that” but he has no money to fund a national campaign.

“Why am I not running for president again? I would have loved to do that but the reality is you need money,” Gordon said.

Lamenting the electoral system, Gordon said he did not want to beg funds from others so as to avoid being manipulated for their own interest.

“Kailangan may level playing field sa ating bayan. Dapat ang mga anak ninyo, balang araw, may karapatang makatakbo bilang pangulo. Pero right now, napakamahal, halimbawa ng advertising,” Gordon said.

(There has to be level playing field in the country. Someday, your children must have the right to run for president. But right now, things like advertising are expensive.)

“Kailangang baguhin natin ang patakaran ng pagboto sa ating bansa, para kahit na ikaw ay anak ng mahirap, balang araw ay ang kailangan mo lang ay talento at mahusay na party system para sa ganoon, ang party ang tutustos ng gastos mo,” he added.

(We need to have a the country’s system of election, so that even if you come from a poor family, you can run someday just armed with talent and a working party system, so that your party will shoulder the costs of your election.)

Gordon also expressed dismay over the voting public’s preference for popularity and winnability, among other criteria in choosing the country’s next leaders.
“Sometimes it’s mere popularity. Palagi tayong sumasama sa mga popular. Tama lang ‘yun. Pero dapat, the winnable must be suitable. Dapat may kakayahan na kapag humarap siya sa trabaho, kaya niya ang trabaho,” he said.

(Sometimes it’s mere popularity. We always go for the popular candidate. That’s just right. But the winnable must also be suitable. They should be able to face the job and do it.)
READ: Gordon takes swipe at ‘inexperienced’ 2016 bets

Gordon has previously called on the Comelec to ban political advertisements and push for more debates instead.

READ: Pols need to engage in debate, says Gordon

Asked which presidential hopeful he will support, Gordon said: So long as the goals are honorable, makakabuti sa lahat ng tao, maiaangat ang kabuhayan ng tao (and they will benefit the people and improve their lives), we will support them.”

Noting that he served the Filipinos over the past years even without pay, Gordon said he felt like there were still a lot of things that needed to be done.

“Marami na tayong nagawa pero marami pang kailangang gawin (We have done a lot, but we still need to do more). We never left public service. I’m a volunteer of the Red Cross for the past 48 years… So kung saan ako dadalhin ng kakayahan ko doon ako pupunta (Wherever my capabilities will lead me, that’s where I will go),” he said. IDL