Qualifications for the presidency: too flimsy

Imagine: 97 aspirants have filed their COCs for president. Would you believe that my driver is one of them? Only in the Philippines can a jobless, high school dropout, without any house or land can run for president. But to apply for a permanent job as clerk typist in a remote municipality, one needs a college degree, civil service eligibility, and a bundle of all clearances. In our country, all you need is to know how to read and write.

Under Article VII, Section 3 of the 1987 Philippine Constitution, all that are required for presidential candidacy are that the candidate is: a natural-born citizen, a registered voter, able to read and write, at least 40 years of age on election day (not on the day of filing), and a resident of the Philippines for at least 10 years immediately before the election. That means that he does not have to obtain a medical certificate, a neuro-psycho test result (which is required of security guards and policemen). There are no property requirements and there is no filing fee. The framers of the Constitution were too fixated on making it very democratic, allowing even people who cannot win as barangay tanod to run.

Because of these monumental flaw, meet your candidates for president, (thanks to Maria Ressa's Rappler): Evelia Abarrondo, Loreto Agcaoili, Juan Aguilar Jr, Hilario Andes, Arsenio Antiporda, Jr, Gerald Arcega, Reyzal Bahian, Bonifacio Bravo, Diosdada Dacillo, Orlando de Guzman, Diane de Leon, Ramon Raco Diaz, Arsenio Dimaya, Ricardo Domingo, Antero Fabito Anthony Fajardo, Edmundo Fuerte, Kamadhein Gaa, Alejo Katigbak, Danilo Lihaylihay, Edgardo Los Banos, Erazo Lucio, Josephine Murillo, Felix Natnat, Robert Navarro, Eric Negapatan, Vladimir Ocampo, Ferdinand Jose Pijao, Deogracias Porio, Danilo Roble, Cesar Roca, Cornelio Seno, Apolonio Suguilon, Pedrito Tagle.

Do you know these guys running for the highest position of the land: Nestor Talion, Anna Capella Velasco, Ma Antonia Aquino, Salic Arap, Rodolfo Basadre Jr, Rolly Casino, Rodel deVera, Ephraim defino, Alexander Encarnacion, Corina Joyce Felix, Nancy Megio, Domingo Mejia, Jose Romel Mario, juan Ollesca, Jeffrey Roden, Roosevelt Sta Maria, Antonio Valdez, Ramon Asuelo, Rudy Flores, Edencio Fronda, Happy Lubarbio, Dante Martinez, Dolores Quirao, Luzviminda Raval, Benjamin Rivera, Sahiron, Salim, Jimmy Torres, Danilo Villanueva, Arnel David, Leonardo Fernandez, Marsden Luyahan, Ma Aurora Marcos, Edgar Niez, Valriano Nocon III, Sonny Boy Andrade, Delia Aninon, Leo Cadion, Winston Kakayan.

Would you vote for these characters for president: Gabriela Larot, Faisal Magondato, Ma Mercedes Pesigan, Melchor Puno, Alfredo Repuesto, Juanita Trocenio, Renato J Valera, Tiburcio Marcos, Victoriano Inte, Dave Aguila Jose Montemayor, Lysander Órdenes, Edmundo Rubi, and Laurencio Yulaga.

These guys are running against Leni Robredo, Bongbong Marcos, Manny Pacquiao, Ping Lacson, Bato dela Rosa, Isko Moreno, and some guys I know like DFA Usec. Ernesto Abella, Greco Belgica, Norberto Gonzales and labor leader Leody de Guzman.

Would you believe that my driver whom I helped to become an OFW came back and he is one of the 97 candidates running for president. My God, if my driver can do it, why didn't I? I called him and asked why. All he said was: “Sir, this is a free country. And I know how to read and write.”

Well, tama naman siya. Everyone is free to make a fool out of himself. I just have to grin and bear it.