Businessman Manuel Pangilinan, who decided not to run as president for the 2016 national elections despite the clamor of several groups, said he is praying that God will give the Philippines “the right president.”
“My prayer is that the good Lord gives us the right president whoever he/she might be,” Pangilinan said.
When asked who the right president is, Pangilinan said: “I don’t know. He decides.”
The country’s next president is critical to the companies led by Pangilinan, as most of them are affected by the regulation and policy of the government. Pangilinan leads the PLDT and MPIC conglomerates which have business interests in telecommunication, power, water distribution, toll roads, mining, hospitals and infrastructure.
The toll road and water businesses of the Pangilinan group are asking the government for tariff adjustment under their concession agreement.
Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago, who filed her certificate of candidacy to run as president, earlier endorsed Pangilinan to run for the highest position in the country, while Vice President Jejomar Binay, who is also running for president, earlier indicated he wanted Pangilinan to be his running mate.