Local church starts anti-dynasty signature drive in CamSur

A NOW FAMILIAR poster being used in the campaign to end the reign of political dynasties in the country RICHARD REYES

NAGA CITY–Localizing the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines’ support against the perpetuation of political dynasties in the country, the archdiocese here has started obtaining signatures to signal its support for the campaign in Camarines Sur, a province noted for its well-entrenched and influential political clans.

Fr. Jose Cortez, facilitator of the anti-dynasty signature campaign, said the Archdiocese of Caceres, under the leadership of Archbishop Rolando Tria Tirona, is initiating the signature campaign against political dynasty that began Saturday in its more than a hundred parishes, with a combined total of about a million parishioners.

Cortez said the anti-dynasty campaign had been formalized by the CBCP with the Movement Against Dynasty (MAD), which seeks to gather 5.2 million signatures all over the Philippines for its people’s initiative for an anti-dynasty enabling law.

Danilo Olivares, the co-chair of MAD who was here Saturday for the launch of the local signature drive, explained the signature campaign is their long-term target but their short-term objective is to campaign against candidates who are members of political dynasties who have been entrenched for decades.

In Camarines Sur, there are four political clans who have been entrenched for decades – the Fuentebellas, Villafuertes, Alfelors and Andayas.

These families, dominating their respective bailiwicks here for generations, all have candidates running in the May polls.

In the case of the Fuentebellas, which hold sway for over a century in the Partido area (fourth district), a scion of the clan, Felix William or “Wimpy,” is gunning to take over the post to be vacated by his three-term father, Arnulfo, the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives. Wimpy’s candidacy is being challenged by actor Aga Muhlach.

The Villafuertes, despite a very public feud among members of its family, remain formidable with four members in the race: outgoing congressman Luis, who is running for governor against his own grandson, Miguel Luis; Nelly, who seeks to replace her husband Luis as third district representative but is being challenged by Leni Robredo, the widow of the late Interior Secretary Jesse Robredo; and Luis’ and Nelly’s estranged son, LRay, the outgoing governor and father of Miguel Luis, who is challenging the reelection bid of erstwhile presidential son and second district Rep. Diosdado Ignacio “Dato” Arroyo.

Rep. Rolando Andaya is seeking reelection, against an unknown candidate, in the family’s political stronghold, the first district.

The Alfelors have, on the other hand, dominated the Iriga City politics for so long and remained so, despite a family in-fighting. Ronald Felix “Ganggang” Alfelor is running against cousin Emmanuel for the mayoral seat. Ganggang is the younger brother of last-term Iriga City Mayor Madelaine Alfelor while Emmanuel Jr. is the son of Emmanuel Sr., now deceased, who had also served three terms as city mayor.

“Political dynasty is negating the ability of other people to also lead us towards development. As far as the legislature is concerned nothing has been done to stop the perpetuation of political dynasty,” Cortez said.

He noted that even the judiciary could not do anything to stop the political dynasty in the absence of an enabling law that supports the provision of the Constitution.

“We will be campaigning for signatures, which will define how active we will be in the anti-dynasty movement,” he said.

Quintin P. San Diego, chair of MAD, on Saturday said they came to Naga City to campaign against political dynasty to start its end in the Philippine politics with the blessings from the Catholic Church.

San Diego said they will ask the dioceses all over the country to provide them “signature desks” for the success of the anti-dynasty campaign.

San Diego said the cooperation of the Church gives them the moral initiative to continue, aside from the clamor from the people to stop political dynasties.

He said MAD has formally coalesce with other 15 groups, including the group of Dante Jimenez who had launched the same campaign in February in Legazpi City, working to end the reign of political dynasties in the Philippines.

San Diego said that once they have obtained the 5.2 million signatures, these would be submitted to the Commission on Election as people’s initiative, which would then only require a referendum to be enacted into law.