(CNN Philippines) – Isn’t there nobody else qualified for public office who doesn’t come from a political clan?
You’ve probably heard that comment often, if you haven’t said it yourself.
So we here at CNN Philippines thought of asking you, through our website, this question: “Who would you want as the next president of the Philippines?”
We didn’t give any choices so our readers could put in any name they want.
From the more than 7,000 responses, we first weeded out the obvious jokers who named Mang Kanor, the late former cop who became famous for his sex scandal videos; Vicky Belo, the dermatologist; and two CNN Philippines news anchors, Mai Rodriguez and Claudine Trillo.
Someone wants actor Vic Sotto for president, which may not be a serious suggestion – or maybe it is, considering that the actor’s brother, Vicente “Tito” Sotto III is now a senator.
So did our readers put in names other than the usual?
No. Most of them put in the old familiar politicians whose supporters are now already pushing as possible presidential candidates.
So here are our readers’ choices for the presidency, who currently hold government posts, with their surnames in alphabetical order:
President Benigno Aquino III
Vice President Jejomar Binay
Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano
Sen. Pia Cayetano
Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte
Manila Mayor Joseph Estrada, a former president
Sen. Ferdinand Marcos, Jr.
Sen. Sergio Osmeña III
Sen. Grace Poe
Pampanga Rep. Oscar S. Rodriguez
Interior Secretary Manuel Roxas
Albay Gov. Joey Salceda
Sen. Miriam Defensor-Santiago
Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno
Readers also want the following former government officials:
Former Interior Secretary Rafael Alunan III
Former Chairman Bayani Fernando of the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority
Former Sen. Richard Gordon, who is now chairman of the Philippine Red Cross
Former Sen. Panfilo Lacson
Former Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro
One businessman made it to the list – telecommunications and media magnate Manuel V. Pangilinan.
Some people still want the late former President Ferdinand E. Marcos, one of them saying: “Could you make MARCOS alive?”
Reasons
We decided not to put out a tally of the names, because it’s not our intent here to influence voters with numbers.
At any rate, some readers made the reasons for their choices clear.
“I want Mayor Rodrigo Duterte to be the next President of the Philippines so that we can be assured of ‘the matuwid na daan’ and also pursue federal form of government which is his and our advocacy… thus assuring resources to be fair and equal to the different regions in the Philippines.”
“The major problems of the Philippines: 1. Corruption in the gov’t 2. Drugs that poison the Filipino people until they become useless 3. Criminalistics, if you want these problems solve GO FOR DUTERTE! DUTERTE is my CHOICE.”
“I foresee Miriam Defensor-Santiago as a good President as her health permits as she has the best political and judiciary exposure and technical know-how to lead the country.”
“ping lacson tau! ibahin naman natin ang takbo ng pilipinas..”
“Senator Panfilo Lacson. Its because he posseses proven leadership, competence and in responsive position to address concerns on national security”
“Pnoy or Roxas para sa matuwid at malinis na daan.. nothing more”
“Bongbong Marcos, hnd dahil anak sya ni FEM [Ferdinand E. Marcos], alam lng nya ang gngwa at cnsabi nya, at gusto q ung pngulo hnd umaasa s tga payo nya me sariling utak n dala dala kht sn.”
“Senator Bongbong Marcos for the greater Philippine dont vote for celebrity’s who don’t have any experience.”
“Bongbong marcos para sa lahat ng pmilya nmin.gogogo bongbong.”
“The Maharlikan blood Bongbong Marcos ‘our nation will be great again’.”
“Poe or Roxas. DEFINITELY not Binay. May God forbid it.”
General qualifications
Other readers apparently have no candidate yet in mind, but they gave some traits they would like a presidential candidate to have:
“brave and honest to the people of the philippines”
“a person of integrity,have fear in God above all must possess political will”
“Someone cares about the poor people and who can stop the corruption”
“Someone fresh with new ideas, anybody but the corrupt to the core Binay. His latest … Making billions off the homeless poor… If Filipinos vote for him, then I say: the country is down the drain! Sad, sad, sad … Filipinos truly will lice unto the stupidest voter in the withdrawal. How embarrassing!”
“a person of integrity,have fear in God above all must possess political will”
“A kind dictator or a hard democrat”
A few readers apparently couldn’t care less who runs in 2016:
“Change the political system.”
