War on dynasties seen until 2016

CITY OF SAN FERNANDO—Leaders of Movement Against Dynasties (MAD) said the group will continue to fight until 2016 for a law that would put flesh to a constitutional ban on political dynasties, encouraged by the rejection by voters of several members of powerful dynasties in the May 13 elections.

MAD chair Quintin San Diego said the best approach to ending political dynasties is still through a people’s initiative.

“The Supreme Court, for lack of an enabling law, has thrown out cases that asked the disqualification of some members of political dynasties,” he said.

“The incoming Congress still has many members [from] political clans. The way to go is still through the initiative petition,” he said.

A petition calling for the end to the succession of rulers from the same family was launched by the group in February at Baclaran Church. The target is 5.2 million signatures, the minimum requirement for people’s initiative-driven laws.

San Diego said while the Constitution explicitly prohibits political dynasties, no law in the last 25 years has been passed to make it operational.

In the absence of a law, he said MAD considers a family a political dynasty if two of its closely related members occupy national or local elective positions at the same time.

He said dynasties deny equal opportunity, control resources and worsen corruption and poverty in the country.

Dynasties, according to the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines, “breed corruption and inhibit general access to political power.”

“[The existence of dynasties] restricts democracy,” San Diego said.

MAD said at least 18 political dynasties have been hurt by the “growing antidynasty sentiment.”

These, he said, include the Jalosjos family of Zamboanga; Angara family of Aurora; Reyes family of Isabela; Magsaysay and Gordon families of Zambales; Osmeña, Garcia and Gullas families of Cebu; Villafuerte family of Camarines Sur; Lazatin and Nepomuceno families of Angeles City; and the Aquinos of Tarlac.

In April, MAD took the campaign to La Union, the political base of the Ortegas, and Ilocos Sur, where the Singsons are dominant. However, members of these families still won.

Among the powerful clans now are the families of President Aquino and Vice President Jejomar Binay, said San Diego.

The Center for People Empowerment in Governance  tallied 178 dominant political dynasties, including those in local areas. Tonette Orejas, Inquirer Central Luzon