"Is he really serious? It must be a big joke. I hope he was only engaged in humor," said Bobby Tuazon, policy studies director for the Center for People Empowerment in Governance.
Pacquiao in an AFP report categorically said he is aspiring to run for a presidential position. He did not state when.
Pacquiao won't be allowed to run for president in 2016?he will only be 37 at the eve of the presidential elections. The constitution requires presidential candidates to be at least 40 years of age.
Tuazon said if Pacquiao is serious about running for president someday, he must publicize his records in Congress to show him as a "perennial absentee with poor performance to show."
"How can he say he is qualified to run when there are no records to show that he is a credible congressman when is he just banking on his popularity?" Tuazon said.
House records show that since he assumed his post in the 15th Congress, Pacquiao has been among the top absentees?he was only able to attend 47 of the 73 session days in the first regular session, 27 of 59 sessions in 2011, and 41 of the 61 session days in 2012.
Ramon Casiple, executive director of the Institute for Political and Electoral Reform, agreed that Pacquiao's record in the House of Representatives is a "failing" one.
He added that he could not think of any legislation to associate Pacquiao with except his anti-Reproductive Health law crusade when it was still a bill in Congress.
"Wala pa siyang matino na nagawa sa House. Except siguro kung mag-shape up siya in time for 2022," Casiple said, referring to the next presidential elections after 2016.
Pacquiao has authored 12 bills through his three-year stint in the 15th Congress, including bills on the establishment of a hospital in Sarangani province, a prohibition on cellphone networks to send unsolicited messages to subscribers, the establishment of breast care centers in every region, and the creation of a Philippine boxing commission.
For the 16th Congress, he has refiled three of his previous bills while adding two new ones?bills on the establishment of community fitness centers in every barangay, and the amendment to the Philippine Sports Commission Act.
Eligible
Then again, "anybody can run in this country. Basta you fulfill the requirements sa Constitution," Casiple said.
Article VII Section 2 of the 1987 Philippine Constitution states that "no person may be elected President unless he is a natural-born citizen of the Philippines, a registered voter, able to read and write, at least forty years of age on the day of the election, and a resident of the Philippines for at least ten years immediately preceding such election."
Meanwhile, Edmund Tayao, a political analyst from University of Santo Tomas, recognized that Pacquiao is an eager learner in politics, attending various trainings and seminars in lawmaking.
But he noted that Pacquiao still lacks short of public policy understanding.
"Running for national office, especially if it requires a public policy understanding, I think, is too early for him," Tayao said.
Casiple said he believes Pacquiao would aim for a senatorial post in 2016, which if he wins "would make him in a position to possibly run as president in 2022."
Tayao said Pacquiao should stick to being a local official instead of a national post such as president or senator.
But for Tuazon, maybe Pacquiao should "stick to boxing."
"He should be stuck to where he is good at, not in politics where performance and public records are more important," he said.
Pacquiao earlier said he wanted to run as vice-president in the 2016 polls.
Pacquiao first ran for congressman in 2007 in General Santos City but lost to veteran politician Darlene Antonino-Custodio. His wife Jinkee ran and won as Sarangani vice governor in the 2013 polls, while his brother Rogelio "Ruel" Pacquiao lost as General Santos City representative. ? BM, GMA News
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