Desire to hold on to power creates political dynasties — Drilon

MANILA, Philippines — Contrary to the belief of House Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano, Senate Minority Leader Franklin Drilon on Wednesday said it is not term limits that lead political dynasties to thrive in the country but the “desire” to hold on to power.

Cayetano — whose wife, brother, and sister all currently hold public offices — recently attributed the creation of political dynasties to the limitations set by the Constitution on the allowable number of terms of local officials.

“I do not subscribe to that,” Drilon said in an interview over ABS-CBN News Channel, when sought for his position on Cayetano’s remarks.

“It is the desire to hold on to political power, rather than the term limit that is the cause of these dynasties,” he added.

The Senate leader stressed that regardless of the number of terms, the country’s “problem” with political dynasties will remain unless “so long as we have no implementing legislation on the anti-political dynasty provision of the Constitution.”

Cayetano’s pronouncement came after Cagayan de Oro City 2nd District Rep. Rufus Rodriguez, chair of the House committee on constitutional amendments, announced that his panel will convene to tackle the proposed changes in the Constitution after President Rodrigo Duterte’s State of the Nation Address next week.

Drilon had thumbed down the plan of the House panel, saying it would be a “waste of time” to tackle changes in the Constitution while the country is grappling with the coronavirus pandemic.

EDV