Congress urged: No to watered-down antidynasty law
Stakeholders warned on Monday against the passage of a watered-down antipolitical dynasty law, saying that a substantial measure would help address the problem of political dynasties in the Philippines.
At the Senate committee on electoral reforms and people’s participation’s “Kontra-dinastiya” public consultation in Pasig City on Monday, invited panelists aired their sentiments on the issue, among them Pasig Mayor Vico Sotto, Anti-Dynasty Network coconvener Kiko Aquino-Dee, Samahang Lingkod ng Bayan executive director Miguel Karlo Abadines, SK Federation president Jonas Abadilla, Liga ng mga Barangay – Mandaluyong president Darwin Fernandez, and Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila president Madie Retiro.
According to Sotto, it is vital that the public knows why it is important for the government to pass a law that bans political dynasties in the country.
“For me, this is not about any individual or any specific family, or against a politician. What we are fighting against here and what we do not want is the concentration of power in the hands of only a few,” he stressed.
“Second, what we are opposing and rejecting is the use of the people’s resources, the use of public resources, to perpetuate themselves in power,” added Sotto, a nephew of Senate President Vicente Sotto III.
Monitor the process
Abadines, for his part, underscored the need to monitor the process and push for a “substantial” and “true” antidynasty law.
“Not all antidynasty bills are sincere. We really need to scrutinize the process, because there are some that they call antidynasty bills but, for example, if a family has 15 members in politics, only three or five might be disqualified, while 10 out of the 15 can still run for different positions,” he pointed out.
Prior to the consultation led by Sen. Risa Hontiveros, the committee chair, Abadines said he and his organization was pushing for the passage of a law on political dynasties that would prohibit a person related to an elected official within the fourth degree of consanguinity or affinity from running for public office.
“We have waited 40 years just to have this kind of law. And now that we have been given the opportunity to finally end the problem of political dynasties, we must go for the best—the highest standard: up to the fourth degree of consanguinity, both successive and simultaneous terms, so there are no loopholes, no rotation, with a maximum of two family members holding office at any one time. And of course, reforming the party list system to ensure genuine competition,” he said.
People’s initiative option
Later in the consultative meeting, Abadines expressed fears that the House is planning to pass a “watered-down” version of the antipolitical dynasty law.
“Eighty-three percent of our House of Representatives are part of political dynasties, and I already know that there are plans to pass a very watered-down version of the law. That’s why, for us, we need to fight for it. And I just want to mention that there is a process called a people’s initiative, which we can actually use to pass a genuine antipolitical dynasty law,” he noted.
Echoing Abadines, Aquino-Dee likewise pushed for a law banning political dynasties up to the fourth degree of consanguinity, or “up to first cousins.”
“We can see the economic outcomes as well as the political effects of having dynasties. Our leaders become far too complacent. There is real justification for having a political dynasty law,” said Aquino-Dee, a nephew of the late former President Benigno Aquino III and Sen. Bam Aquino.
