‘Small majority’ of Pinoys backs law vs dynasties
A “small majority” of Filipinos supports the immediate passage of a law against political dynasties, according to a Pulse Asia survey released on Monday.
The survey conducted from Dec. 12 to 15 showed that 54 percent of Filipinos agree Congress should immediately legislate banning political dynasties while 18 percent disagree with that measure. Around 27 percent answered they cannot say if they agree or disagree.
The poll was conducted using face-to-face interviews among 1,200 adults and had a margin of error of plus-or-minus 2.8 percent.
At the national level, indecision is more pronounced than outright disagreement, Pulse Asia noted.
Support for the law against political dynasties was highest in Metro Manila at 69 percent—although at least five of the capital region’s 16 cities and one municipality are dominated by dynasties.
Public support for that measure is at 59 percent both in Luzon outside of Metro Manila and the Visayas, while results were split in Mindanao—with 34 percent agreeing with that proposal, 27 percent disagreeing and 38 percent undecided.
In terms of social classes, 57 percent in Class D, 47 percent in Class E, and 43 percent in Class C want an antidynasty law.
Those undecided were 37 percent in Class C, 34 percent in Class E and 25 percent in Class D.
Adverse impact
Article II Section 26 of the 1987 Constitution prohibits political dynasties “as may be defined by law,” but no legislation has been passed to make it operational.
As a result, well-entrenched political families continue to dominate national, and especially local and barangay, politics.
On Dec. 9, President Marcos directed Senate President Vicente Sotto III and House Speaker Faustino Dy III to prioritize bills seeking to end political dynasties.
Analysts have pointed out the adverse impact of dynasties on the country’s democracy and economy, in terms of cornering business and other opportunities in their respective turfs and compromising government assistance to the public.
Relatives
Under the current 20th Congress, there are at least 13 bills in the House of Representatives and five in the Senate seeking to ban or restrict political dynasties.
Most members of the House come from political dynasties, while the Senate has four siblings and at least three senators with other relatives holding public office.
Dy himself comes from a political dynasty and has several family members in elected posts at the same time, including his sons former Isabela Rep. and now Echague Mayor Faustino “Inno” Dy V and former Echague Mayor and now Isabela Vice Gov. Francis Faustino Dy; brothers Victor Dy and Manuel Faustino Dy, who are both members of the provincial board of Isabela; and daughter-in-law Alyssa Sheena Tan-Dy, the mayor of Santiago City.
The President also belongs to one of the country’s so-called “fat dynasties,” with several members of his clan simultaneously holding elective positions.
His son Sandro is House Majority Leader and representative of the first district of Ilocos Norte. Other family members in politics include the President’s sister, Sen. Imee Marcos; first cousin, former Speaker and Leyte Rep. Martin Romualdez; cousin-in-law, Tingog party list Rep. Yedda Marie Romualdez; nephew, Tingog party list Rep. Andrew Julian Romualdez; first cousin, Ilocos Rep. Angelo Marcos Barba; and cousin-in-law, Navotas Rep. Toby Tiangco.
Vice President Sara Duterte also belongs to a political dynasty. Her brothers are Davao City Rep. Paolo Duterte and Davao City Vice Mayor, now acting Mayor Sebastian Duterte. PPP party list Rep. Harold James Duterte is her cousin while Davao City Rep. Omar Duterte is her nephew.
