Political dynasties on way out–Koko

Sen. Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III. Photo by INQUIRER.net/RYAN LEAGOGO

Whether the House of Representatives likes it or not, it would have “no choice” but to accept that political dynasties are on the way out, Senate President Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III said on Friday.

Pimentel said he expected the Senate to pass a bill prohibiting political dynasties, in spite of qualms on the part of the House, and even in a scenario where a new federal Constitution was enacted by Congress.

“We can pass that [bill] in the Senate. We will also incorporate a self-executing antipolitical dynasty provision in the new Constitution,” Pimentel told reporters in a text message.

“Hence the House has no choice but to accept the reality that there will soon be an antipolitical dynasty law,” he said.

Need to consult members

Sought for comment on the Senate move, Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez did not give any commitments on whether the House would support it.

“I have to consult the members,” he said in a text message.

On Thursday, 13 senators–the majority of the 24-seat Senate–signed a committee report on the bill banning immediate and extended family members from running for public office to succeed or replace a relative, or simultaneously serve with a relative in the same political jurisdiction.

They were Minority Leader Franklin Drilon and Senators Francis Pangilinan, Ralph Recto, Grace Poe, Loren Legarda, Panfilo Lacson, Sonny Angara, Joseph Victor Ejercito, Bam Aquino, Nancy Binay, Leila de Lima, Risa Hontiveros and Win Gatchalian.

‘Key reform impasse’

Faculty deans of public administration of Ateneo de Manila University, Asian Institute of Management, and the University of the Philippines issued a statement on Friday, lauding the 13 senators for having “broken an over 25-year-old impasse on a key reform.”

“This long-delayed reform explains in part why good governance… has been elusive despite the ambition of citizensí empowerment under the 1987 Constitution and the 1991 Local Government Code,” they said.

The statement was signed by Ateneo School of Government dean Ronald Mendoza, UP College of Public Administration and Government dean Maria Fe Villamejor-Mendoza, and AIM Stephen Zuellig Graduate School of Development Management head Kenneth Hartigan-Go.