Lito Lapid meets all the necessary qualifications to become senator under Article VI of the 1987 Constitution. He is over the minimum age of 35, able to read and write, a registered voter, and a resident of the Philippines for no less than two years immediately before he got himself elected senator.
But in an interview published in Wednesday’s Philippine Daily Inquirer, Lapid said he finds it difficult to join the Senate debates on the Reproductive Health (RH) bill due to his poor English – and ultimately due to his supposedly inadequate education.
"These senators are also lawyers who spent 10 years in law school while I spent 10 years practicing my stunts," said Lapid, a stunt man-turned-actor-turned politician. "Much as I want to interpellate, my tongue is not used to English."
Lapid’s statements went viral on the Internet, with netizens giving reactions that range from sheer amusement to utter disappointment.
“Ok lang, may puso ka din naman tulad ng saging, just like your son," said Twitter user @queendemai. “Ayan. Who voted this clown, please stand up," added user @CRISis73.
Raising qualifications?
Lapid, on the other hand, defended himself from questions about his qualifications, with some suggesting that the Philippines amend the Constitution to raise the academic requirements to run for public office.
"Eh kung ‘yan ang ipapasa nila, sa susunod hindi na ako tatakbo kung hindi ako qualified," Lapid said in an interview with reporters Wednesday afternoon.
But the senator, who is a high school graduate, said derogatory remarks on his poor English do not insult him. Lapid said he accepts this situation.
"Wala akong magagawa kung ipinanganak ako nang mahirap, anak ng labandera, eh. Hindi ako nakapag-aral dahil sa kahirapan. Ewan ko ang ibang tao, baka nag-aral sila, baka naiinsulto pag ganon na hindi sila natapos. Eh ako, tinanggap ko talagang ganito. Anak lang ako ng labandera," he said.
Lapid, however, said keeping mum does not mean he does not participate in Senate deliberations. “Sumasali naman ako eh. Depende naman eh. Kasi ‘pag bumoto ako ng ‘yes,’ pag gusto ko ‘yung batas, sali na ‘ko roon. ‘Pag nag-‘no’ ako, ayoko ng batas," he said.
He also said he does convey his concerns to the RH bill’s staunchest supporters, Senators Pia Cayetano and Miriam Defensor-Santiago. “Kung minsan nagtatanong naman ako nang pabulong sa kanila, eh," Lapid said.
Qualifications for public office
Under the 1987 Constitution, those called to public service have to meet minimum qualifications.
Some appointive public officials, like the chairman of the Commission on Elections, must not only hold a college degree but also be a lawyer who has been in the practice for a minimum of 10 years.
But quite notably, some public officials who get elected into office need only have the minimum educational qualifications of “able to read and write" – and these include the President, Vice President, senators and congressmen. With such minimum qualifications, it has been said, almost anyone can get herself or himself elected into public office to serve the people. — MRT/RSJ
