San Miguel Corp. president and COO Ramon S. Ang (Photo courtesy by Tatler Philippines)
By Junex Doronio
MANILA, Philippines — Saying that businessmen should only mind their own business, former House Speaker Pantaleon “Bebot” Alvarez on Tuesday frowned on the prospects that billionaires Ramon S. Ang and former Senate President Manny Villar may run for president next year.
“Let me be frank and honest about this. Para sa akin kapag malaking negosyante ka na, siguro tama na. Mahirap kapag naglagay tayo ng pangulo na malaki ang business interest sa ating bansa. Baka mamaya ‘yung buong Pilipinas eh negosyo na niya. That is very dangerous. I do not personally subscribe sa idea na ‘yun,” Alvarez said.
In December last year, political campaign consultancy firm BluePrint.PH released a study showing that San Miguel Corporation president and chief operating officer RSA, as Ang is called by his followers, and Villar, who is the only Filipino in Bloomberg’s list of super-rich in the world, are some of the big names Filipinos who are eyeing for president in 2022.
The Davao del Norte congressman said his new party Reporma will focus on “voter education” and does not yet have any candidate in mind to support for the upcoming polls.
Alvarez is also believed to be eyeing the presidency but he neither confirmed nor denied it.
The recent Pulse Asia survey showed presidential daughter and Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte leading the pack of “presidentiables” seconded by former Senator Ferdinand “Bongbong” Romualdez Marcos Jr. and Sen. Grace Poe.
Some quarters are pushing for a North and South tandem in Bongbong Marcos and Sara Duterte-Carpio or vice versa. (AI/MTVN)
