Bongbong Marcos on political dynasties: You can’t stop people from wanting to serve

MANILA, Philippines — Saying there is a “very good system” in place to mitigate political dynasties in the country, presidential candidate Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. on Wednesday said: “You cannot stop people from wanting to serve.”

Marcos made the remark amid criticisms regarding his own political dynasty. Marcos’ sister, Imee, is an incumbent senator while his son, Sandro, is running for the congressional post of Ilocos Norte’s first district.

“You cannot stop people from wanting to serve. Imee wants to serve. I want to serve. Sandro, my son, wants to serve. What would I tell them? ‘No, don’t help’? Kung binoto naman ng tao, e di they deserve to be in wherever they are, ” Marcos said during the Kapihan sa Manila Bay forum.

(If they were elected by the people, then they deserve to be in wherever they are.)

“It’s very clear that the political dynasties, there’s a very good system or process to mitigate the overstaying of political dynasties and it’s called elections,” he added.

According to Marcos, many large political dynasties were dethroned in previous elections.

“How many large political dynasties have we seen, who have been there for two generations, maybe more na bumaligtad, na nawala dahil ayaw na ng tao o whatever. So, nawawala. There is the election,” Marcos said.

(How many large political dynasties—who have been there for two generations—have been dethroned because people no longer preferred them? There is the election.)

“Besides, why should Imee not be allowed to work? She does a very good work. Marami siyang ginagawa. Why? Because kapatid ko [siya]?” he added.

(She is doing a lot. Why? Just because she’s my sister?)

Further, Marcos said the concept of political dynasties “has not really been properly defined” in the Constitution.

Term limits

Marcos, instead, put the blame on the term limits on elected officials in the Constitution.

“The term limits makes political dynasties. ‘Pag mayor ako, nine years ako, patapos na ko pero hawak ko pa rin yung bayan at marami pa kong gustong gawin, patatakbuhin yung asawa, patatakbuhin yung anak, patatakbuhin yung pinsan tapos siya tatakbong vice mayor,” Marcos said.

(If I am a mayor and I am approaching the end of my term which is nine years but I still want to do a lot for my area, then I will ask my wife, children, cousins to run and then run for the vice mayoral post.)

“That plays a large part in it. Even people have been talking recently and I happen to agree about how the partylist system has been abused. The term limits have something to do with that,” he added.

Marcos, however, did not say how he seeks to solve his perceived issue with term limits.

“We have to look at the unintended consequences of some of the provisions in the Constitution and what was the intent,” Marcos said.

/MUF