IT is interesting to follow the thoughts of presidential candidate Manny Pacquiao, as gleaned from his impromptu speeches in the ongoing political sorties.
It was reported that in Pangasinan last week, Senator Manny Pacquiao lashed out at critics who continue to question his intelligence and capability to lead the country if he wins the presidency.
The senator who has retired from a brilliant career in boxing clearly understands the meaning of the adjective “dumb” whether in English or in Tagalog. The word means lacking in intelligence or good judgment. In order words, stupid. The second meaning is lacking the power of speech, which is offensive when applied to humans. Pacquiao said he is not dumb, and Filipino voters who root for thieves and crooks and elect them to public office are the ones who are stupid or dull-witted.
Pacquiao’s exact words: “They say Manny Pacquiao is dumb. That’s not true. The dumbest Filipinos are those who will vote for the corrupt.”
‘But being a believer does not guarantee that a politician will not rob the people.’
The senator reminded his audience that there are many corrupt officials, from the national government down to the local government units, and we might add, even from the so-called independent constitutional commissions, the judiciary, and the legislative branch.
It would have been better if Pacquiao just refuted the charge made by his critics that he is dumb, or lacking in intelligence or good judgment. He said it’s not true, and we believed him. One cannot get to the status that he is now in terms of wealth, personal influence, political power and career in sports if he is dumb. Pacquiao is actually one of the smartest Filipinos this nation has produced, and in the field of international sports, his name will live for ages, even if he wins or loses this presidential bid.
The senator-candidate, however, reveals one of his classic “non sequitur” fallacies that even disparages Filipinos, calling them stupid for voting candidates who steal, because when you look at the official records of the Office of the Ombudsman, a big number of convicted officials were duly elected by their constituents, or appointed by higher officials who are their cohorts in thievery of government funds and resources.
Filipino voters are not dumb for voting these people into powerful positions. Many of these elected officials were clean when they started, and dirtied their hands and reputation while lining their pockets with graft during their term of office. It is not the fault of voters that many of their so-called leaders have chosen the road to dishonesty and perdition, because the temptation is just too strong.
Pacquiao urged Pangasinenses to learn from the lessons of the past and vote for righteous leaders who believe in God. But being a believer does not guarantee that a politician will not rob the people. With such a very shallow bench of non-thieves, voters have little space to move.
