Political dynasties: bane or boon?
By Artemio V. Panganiban
Philippine Daily Inquirer, Dec. 7, 2013
The committee on suffrage and electoral reforms of the House of Representatives recently approved a bill prohibiting political dynasties. Titled “Anti-Political Dynasty Act,” the bill seeks to enforce Art. II, Sec. 28 of the Constitution: “The State shall guarantee equal opportunities for public service and prohibit political dynasties as may be defined by law.”
To be defined by law. The ban is undoubtedly a constitutional policy, but it is neither absolute or self-executory because it is qualified by the phrase “as may be defined by law.” The consolidated bill of several representatives, including Teddy Casiño, Neri Colmenares, Antonio Tinio and Oscar Rodriguez, aims precisely to define the meaning of “political dynasty.”
A big surprise in the upper chamber is Sen. JV Ejercito, who filed his antidynasty bill just prior to the House committee’s approval. I say “surprise” because Ejercito is ringed by political relatives, like his father Joseph Estrada (mayor of Manila and former president), his mother Guia Gomez (mayor of San Juan City), his half brother Jinggoy (a senator), his first cousin ER Ejercito (governor of Laguna), and his niece Janella (a councilor of San Juan).
Most Filipino politicians support, in principle, the antidynasty bill. After all, who would be against a constitutional policy? But as in all matters, whether constitutional or otherwise, the devil is in the details, for example:
1. Who are the relatives to be banned? Only direct ascendant-descendants (parents, children and grandchildren)? Or also brothers, sisters, cousins, nephews and nieces? Only relatives by blood or also by marriage, like spouses and in-laws? Only legitimate relations, or also illegitimate ones like mistresses and out-of-wedlock children/grandchildren? Only full-blood or also half-blood and adopted relations?
2. What offices are included? Elective and/or appointive? National or provincial, city, town and barangay positions, or all of them? Only within the same office like in the Senate, the House, the Cabinet or all offices?
3. What geographical limits should be included? Only within the same province, city, town or barangay? What time limitations, if any? Can relatives succeed retiring or term-limited officials? Should the ban be for relations running in the same election, or should it include future elections?
Philippine dynasties. While the House may have passed the bill at the committee level, it will still have to hurdle the plenary debates. So, too, the Senate will have to approve its counterpart measure. Historic as the House action may have been, the antidynasty bill is still far from final victory. Very far. Most members of Congress are related to other public officials, and therefore would be hesitant to define the nature, scope and penalty for the violation of the ban. Read more on Inquirer
