Why not Manny for president?

That’s Manuel V. Pangilinan, and not just Manuel B. Villar. After all, MVP, just like MBV, is a highly successful business executive who is likewise eminently qualified to be the next Chief Executive of the Republic of the Philippines. And why not elect a true-blue businessman like MVP for president? The Philippines could have in 1992, when former coconut-industry czar Eduardo “Danding” M. Cojuangco Jr. of Tarlac made an unsuccessful bid for the presidency.

Otherwise known as “the Boss,” many, particularly in Central Luzon, were excited by Danding’s decision to run under his own Nationalist People’s Coalition—with not a few, particularly in the business sector, seemingly desperate for a forward-looking economic visionary that could take the Philippines out of the doldrums.

But to win wasn’t Danding’s fate then, for one reason or the other, and now seems a bit too late for a political comeback for the political veteran. Looking back, one can only wonder what could have been had Danding, and not Fidel Valdez Ramos, been elected president in 1992. Would his expertise in business and politics have brought the Philippines to better prospects than the Ramos administration?

Perhaps, the strongest and more recent Asian argument against a big businessman for president is Thailand’s Thaksin Shinawatra. He eventually fell from grace and was ousted, despite leading Thailand to tremendous economic success, because of allegations of corruption and self-dealing. Obviously, that is the risk with businessmen-turned-politicians. However, their advantages seem to outweigh such concerns. Even US businessman Michael Bloomberg enjoyed relative success as the mayor of New York City.

Why not MVP, the country’s present telecommunications king and soon-to-be toll king, for president? As long as civil society and other interest groups remain vigilant, it is unlikely that he can get any wrong doing past them. Even Congress and the political opposition can prove to be effective guardians against abuse and corruption.

MVP’s management credentials are impressive. Since his return to Philippine business about a decade ago after many years as a highly paid executive in Hong Kong, he seems to have had the golden touch given his uncanny ability to invest in the right industry at the right time. He has had vision and foresight for economic opportunity—perhaps traits that should now be required of the next Philippine president.

His business group bought into PLDT just as the telecommunications industry was being liberalized, and his management team has since then raised not just PLDT but also Smart and Piltel to new heights. He also successfully invested in the conversion of the former Fort Bonifacio military base in Taguig to the Bonifacio Global City business district, which is now among the booming top-of-mind real-estate developments in Metro Manila.

And come next month his Metro Pacific Investments Corp. expects to complete its purchase of a controlling stake in Manila North Tollways Corp. from the Lopez group. This latest acquisition invariably makes his group the undisputed biggest toll-roads operator in the country with North Luzon participation in the North Luzon Expressway, as well as its planned extension to La Union from Tarlac; the Subic-Tipo Expressway; the proposed link of C-5 to the Manila Port Area that will cross the Nlex near the Valenzuela interchange; and the Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway.

More recent business decisions allowed him to take advantage of emerging opportunities in health care, medical tourism, petroleum, mining, and transportation and logistics. In sum, from cradle to the grave, all Filipinos — one way or the other — rely on products and services provided by Manny Pangilinan’s business group. One cannot exactly say the same of the other Manny.

And despite the anticipated global economic doldrums, MVP continues to plan and boldly invest particularly in productive infrastructure. That’s the kind of leadership that is not only laudable in business, but also essential in politics and governance. Perhaps, it’s time to put this battle-scarred, tried and tested, highly successful businessman in Malacañang.

(Marvin A. Tort is a veteran business journalist. He is a former managing editor of BusinessWorld and also a former chairman of the Philippine Press Council. He is presently into various businesses including gaming and IT, as well as business and communication consulting. He also writes a twice-weekly column for the BusinessMirror.)