Bulacan gov bets split on dynasties

CITY OF MALOLOS—Bulacan gubernatorial candidates, who belong to powerful political families, said political dynasties are not inherently bad if they serve the people well.

“If the person a political family is endorsing for office is a bad one, then that political dynasty is bad,” reelectionist Gov. Wilhelmino Sy-Alvarado said during a candidates’ forum on Saturday.

“But political dynasties in principle are not bad when family members who win do good in office and serve the people,” said Alvarado, the administration Liberal Party candidate who is seeking a third and final term.

Alvarado’s son, Jose Antonio, is running for representative of the first congressional district against Board Member Michael Fermin.

The governor’s closest rival, former Postmaster General and Bulacan Gov. Josefina de la Cruz of the Nationalist People’s Coalition, echoed Alvarado’s assertion, saying: “The families from where we come from should not be the issue. The issue is service to the people.”

Her brother, Rep. Joselito Mendoza of the third congressional district, is a reelectionist.

Mendoza’s son, Jose Andrew, occupies a seat in the Bulacan provincial board as president of the province’s federation of councilors’ leagues.

Another gubernatorial aspirant, San Miguel Mayor Roderick Tiongson, objected to political dynasties, saying they do not promote good governance.

Fermin said political dynasties are bad for governance. “Let us stop trying to straighten what is crooked. Political dynasties are not good,” he said.

The hourlong forum, sponsored by Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting (PPCRV), was attended by 1,000 people.

The third congressional candidate who joined the forum was Jaime Villafuerte, who is running for representative of the second district.

Eleven candidates are running for governor but only six joined the forum. Candidates Ernesto Balite, Andrew Gonzalez and Apollo Libiran attended the PPCRV event, which was divided into three segments and issues: The economy with focus on poverty, the environment on climate change and global warming, and good governance on political dynasties.

Under Section 26, Article II of the 1987 Constitution, the government must “guarantee equal access to opportunities for public service and prohibit political dynasties as may be defined by law.”