Political dynasty issue ‘depends on the voters’

From congressman to governor to mayor, the Garcia clan has practically covered all bases as far as local elective posts go in Cebu.

Five  ­  or six, if one includes re-electionist Liloan mayor and Garcia in-law Vincent Franco “Duke” Frasco — will seek public office in Cebu, a reign that began when Rep. Pablo Garcia of Cebu’s 2nd district became governor in 1995.

The dynasty issue, raised every election, hasn’t hurt their track record of election victories so far.

At 81, the family patriarch, Pabling Garcia of Cebu’s 2nd district,  is game for three more years if he wins a  campaign for reelection.

He became governor of Cebu for three terms from 1995 to 2004. He was succeeded by eldest daughter and outgoing Cebu Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia, who ends three non-extendable terms next year.

Gwen dropped out of a brief Senate bid after much speculation over whether she would stick it out with the United Nationalist Alliance (UNA). In the end, she chose  to run for her youngest brother’s 3rd district congressional seat.

In trading places, sibling Rep. Pablo John Garcia aims to move up from the 3rd district to run for governors as One Cebu’s standard bearer next year.

Pabling has two other sons in municipal politics, Nelson and Marlon.

Dumanjug Mayor Nelson Dumanjug is seeking reelection.  The incumbent president of the League of Municipalities of the Philippines  (LMP) Cebu will run against former Dumanjug mayor Cesar Baricuatro.

Another son, Marlon, is stepping up from vice mayor of Barili town to seeking the mayorship against incumbent Mayor Teresito Mariñas of LP.

In Liloan town, north Cebu, Mayor Vincent Franco “Duke” Frasco is  gunning for a second term.  The husband of Gwendolyn’s daughter Cristina Codilla will go up against Catarman barangay captain Jimmy Maglasang of LP-Bakud.

The battle for Cebu governorship will pit a Garcia against Hilario “Junjun” Davide III, who returns for a second attempt at the top Capitol post.  The former Cebu city councilor, son of former chief justice Hilario Davide, is the Liberal Party’s Cebu province chairman.

Gwen Garcia faces a challenge in the 3rd district congressional race from Pinagmungahan Mayor Geraldine Yapha, daughter of former congressman Antonio Yapha and former Provincial Board (PB) Member Estrella Yapha.

Her father Pabling will run against a former political ally, PB member  Wilfredo Caminero of  LP-Cebu in the 2nd district.

Political dynasties are prohibited in the 1987 Constitution to prevent the concentration of political power in the hands of a few families.

However, no enabling law has ever been passed by Congress to define exactly what a dynasty is or set penalties.

One Cebu spokesman Rory Jon Sepulveda said a political dynasty is only bad if family members elected or appointed to office abuse their power.

He said the  dynasty issue cannot negate the Garcias campaign because in the end, they are each qualified to run and it’s up to Cebuano voters to elect them.

Sepulveda, a lawyer, told Cebu Daily News  it would be unfair for the relatives of an elected official to be barred from running by virtue of their blood ties.

Aside from the Garcia family, the Durano and Martinez clans are protecting turfs in the 2013 elections.

Tourism Secretary Joseph “Ace” Durano is running for congressman in the 5th district to replace his brother Rep. Ramon “Red” Durano VI, who will run as vice mayor in Danao City.

Red will be the wingman of his father, Danao Vice Mayor Ramon “Nito” Durano III. Nito will run for mayor against  two brothers, incumbent Danao City Mayor Ramon “Boy” Durano Jr. and former mayor Jesus “Don” Durano.

Ace will be running against an entertainer Alfie Pepito of One Cebu and independent candidate former Compostela Mayor Gilbert Wagas, who is detained in the New Bilibid Prison after being convicted for malversation of public funds.

In north Cebu, the Martinez family will try to wrest Cebu’s 4th district from Rep. Benhur Salimbangon by fielding former Bogo City Mayor Celestino “Tining” Martinez III.

Tining’s father, incumbent Bogo City Mayor Celestino “Junie” Martinez Jr. will face anew Salimbangon’s sister, businesswoman philanthropist Mariquita Salimbangon-Yeung.

A Malacañang official brushed off the issue of political dynasties yesterday, saying the fate of politicians’ relatives aspiring for posts in the 2013 midterm elections rests on the voters.

Undersecretary Abigail Valte, deputy presidential spokesperson, acknowledged that the Constitutional ban on political dynasties but said this provision required an enabling law to be enforced.

In the absence of such a law, she said the decision of electing members of the same family to the Senate, House of Representatives and other local positions in 2013 lies with the voters.

“You have to bring it back to the voters because those relations are not hidden, and it will be up to the voters to decide who should be their public servants, whether congressmen, senators or mayors,” she said in an interview over government-run dzRB.

President Benigno Aquino III’s 35-year-old cousin, Paolo Benigno “Bam” Aquino IV, is also running for senator under the administration ticket. /With an Inquirer report