By Genalyn Kabiling

If a housewife can become the country’s first woman president, a boxing champion-turned-senator can also have a shot at the presidency, according to a Palace official.

Presidential Spokesman Salvador Panelo (OPS / MANILA BULLETIN)

Presidential Spokesman Salvador Panelo affirmed that Senator Manny Pacquiao could be a good president if he decides to run for the highest post some day.

“The Constitution gives requirements and so anybody, any citizen of this country passing those basic qualifications can be president,” he said in an interview with reporters at the Palace.

“You must remember housewife Cory Aquino became president,” he added.

Asked if Pacquiao could be a good and effective president, Panelo said: “Anybody can be a good president until he sits in the office, hindi natin alam.”

Panelo made the remarks after the President reportedly encouraged Pacquiao to give careful thought to a possible presidential bid before making a decision.

Duterte, speaking at the birthday celebration of Marinduque Rep. Lord Allan Velasco, claimed that the presidency entails hard work, and will only bring stress and exhaustion.

Duterte said he has discouraged his daughter Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte Carpio from running for president in the 2022 elections since it will only bring her suffering.

“Were it not for the love of country, ‘yun lang talaga magsustain. Wala kang makuha dito sa trabaho na ito except work, work and work and work and work. And worry, worry, worry, and be under stress [Were it not for the love of country, it’s really the one that will sustain. You won’t get anything in this job except work, work and work and work and work and worry, worry, worry and be under stress],” Duterte said his remarks posted by ABS-CBN online.