Aquino pitch vs dynasties ineffective

PROTESTERS in Iloilo City burn an effigy showing Uncle Sam riding a yellow horse with a likeness to President Aquino, who, in his last State of the Nation Address on July 27, described protesters and critics with no concrete proposals or alternatives to government programs as useless noisemakers. NESTOR P. BURGOS JR./INQUIRER VISAYAS

The end of political dynasties has not gotten any nearer to reality despite President Aquino’s surprise endorsement of an antidynasty law as he wound up his last State of the Nation Address to Congress on July 27.

In the Visayas, while most members of clans that have held on to power for decades said they support a ban on dynasties, they insist that it should not be a prohibition to run for public office against members of political families.

Iloilo Rep. Niel Tupas Jr., Mr. Aquino’s front man in the impeachment of Renato Corona as Supreme Court chief justice, said the President’s brief push for an antidynasty law is not enough to prod Congress to act swiftly.

“Realistically, I don’t think we have enough time to devote (time) on the bill,” said Tupas.

Congress, he said, is busy with other measures endorsed by the President, particularly the proposed Bangsamoro Basic Law and the 2016 national budget.

Tupas, a leader of the ruling Liberal Party (LP), said, though, that he would not oppose a ban on dynasties.

He, however, said there should not be an absolute ban on anyone to run based on blood relations.

Voters, he said, should be allowed to decide who to elect into office and no law should be passed narrowing their choices to only those who do not belong to a dynasty.

“The very foundation of democracy (provides) that the people are the ultimate source of authority,” he said.

Tupas’ brothers are holding elective positions in Iloilo. Brother Raul is vice governor. Another brother, Nielex, is councilor of Iloilo City. Yet another brother, Nielo, is provincial board member. A fourth brother, Niel III, is mayor of the town of Barotac Viejo.

Tupas is on his last term as representative of Iloilo’s fifth congressional district and plans to pass on the position to his wife, Angeli Lee-Tupas, who is currently his chief of staff.

Tupas’ father, Niel Sr., served three terms as congressman and another three terms as governor.

Pending at the House of Representatives is Bill No. 3587 (An Act Prohibiting the Establishment of Political Dynasties) defining a political dynasty as the “concentration, consolidation or perpetuation of public office and political power by persons related to one another.”

According to the bill, a political dynasty exists “when two or more individuals who are related within the second degree of consanguinity or affinity hold or run for national or local office in successive, simultaneous or overlapping terms.”

The bill prohibits any spouse, or person related “within the second civil degree of consanguinity or affinity, whether legitimate or illegitimate, full or half blood, to an incumbent elective official seeking reelection” from holding or running for any local or national elective office in the same election.

Another member of a political dynasty, Janette Garin, who is now secretary of health, said she personally supports a ban on dynasties although her family could be classified as one.

The passage of the bill in Congress, which is dominated by political clans, would depend on the extent of the ban, however, said Garin.

Garin served three terms as representative of Iloilo’s first congressional district and was replaced by her husband, Oscar Jr. Her mother-in-law, Ninfa, is a member of the Iloilo provincial board.

Her sister-in-law Christine is mayor of Guimbal town. Another sister-in-law, Sharon, is representative of the party-list group AAMBIS-OWA. Her father-in-law had served several terms as congressman.

“I think they will understand,” she said of her family.

In Cebu, former Rep. Pablo John Garcia is also supporting the ban.

“I’m all for it. If there is an antidynasty bill that can withstand constitutional scrutiny, and satisfy the equal protection guarantee, it should be passed now,” he said.

Pablo John has two siblings in public office—Cebu Rep. Gwendolyn Garcia and Dumanjug town Mayor Nelson Garcia.

His father is former Deputy Speaker Pablo Garcia. His brother, Wilson, was former head of the Government Service Insurance System and his other brother, Marlon, served as vice mayor of Barili town.

Former Cebu Gov. Emilio “Lito” Osmeña also expressed support for the ban.

He, however, said the right of anyone, whether member of a political clan or not, to run for public office should not be denied by the ban.

Lapu-Lapu City Mayor Paz Radaza, also a member of LP, refused to say whether she supports the ban or not but said if it became law, she had no choice but to heed it.

“It’s not a big deal for me,” she said.

Serving her second term, Radaza took over the post from her husband, Arturo, who served three terms until 2010. Arturo was representative of the lone district of Lapu-Lapu City from 2010 to 2013. His seat in the House is now occupied by his daughter, Aileen.

Paz’s brother, Augusto Corro, is on his first term as mayor of Daanbantayan town in Cebu province.

Cebu Rep. Joseph “Ace” Durano, another political clan member, said he supports the ban but depending on how it would define a dynasty.

“There is no precedent in any republican democracy of such limitation on the universal right of suffrage. When is a family considered a political dynasty? There is no consensus at this time,” he said.

Tupas said there was “little applause” when the President made a pitch for the ban on political dynasties.