Miriam wants politicians to pass IQ test

If it were up to Senator Miriam Defensor-Santiago, candidates for any public position will have to pass an IQ test before running for office.

At a speech at the Philippine National Police headquarters Monday, Santiago said the 1987 Constitution should be changed to raise the standards for public officials.

At present, the constitution only requires candidates to be able to read and write. This was at odds with a law that makes a college degree a requirement for candidates to the police force, the lawmaker added.

She said chiefs of police must be required to have postgraduate degrees before being promoted, while dubbing that the current situation as "absurd".

"First, we must weed out the idiots. Then, we should weed out those who do not have a college degree. The world has changed, and leaders are required to possess analytical and critical faculties," she pointed out.

By Jonathan de Santos