Senator Pimentel backs German think tank’s stand vs dynasties

Senator Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III. INQUIRER.net FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines–Sen. Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III on Saturday welcomed a German think tank’s analysis that there won’t be any true progress in the Philippines unless the country’s political dynasties are dismantled.

“That’s great news because we need outside pressure and help to succeed in dismantling political dynasties,” Pimentel, son of former Sen. Aquilino “Nene” Pimentel Jr., said in a text message to the Inquirer.

Pimentel, the chair of the Senate committee on electoral reforms and suffrage, said he planned to hold a hearing on Sen. Miriam Defensor-Santiago’s antidynasty bill in May.

He added that he would also fast-track the drafting of his own version of the bill called for by no less than the constitution almost 30 years ago.

“[The hearing on political dynasties] will already be in May.  I’m studying the [proposed basic law on the] Bangsamoro this break,” Pimentel said.

The passage of the proposed Bangsamoro basic law is a priority of the Aquino administration.

The creation of the Bangsa-moro in the southern Philippines is provided for in the peace agreement between the Philippine government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front.

The Inquirer last week reported that German think tank Bertelsmann Foundation said true progress in the Philippines would be out of reach unless oligarchies that control both politics and business were dismantled.

Bertelsmann was quoted as saying that the dominance of entrenched family clans in politics and the economy should be reduced in order to make politics and economics more transparent and competitive. It said an antidynasty law must be passed.

The dominance of a few political families in the country has kept Congress from passing an antidynasty measure since the post-Edsa constitution was ratified in 1987.