No chance for anti-political dynasty bill to be approved in Congress – Mitos

CEBU, Philippines - Opposition senatorial candidate Mitos Magsaysay has resigned to the fact that the proposed anti-political dynasty bill will never pass in Congress because majority of its members are from a political dynasty.

Magsaysay admitted it during her recent visit to Cebu.

“It will never pass in Congress or in the Senate. Papaano yan ma-approve kung majority of our politicians in both House belongs to a political dynasty?,” said Magsaysay in a press conference.

But she said there is another way of doing it. According to Magsaysay, this matter should be included in the amendment of the Constitution through a constitutional convention.

Masaysay said the con-con delegates can make enabling law about political dynasty without them in Congress doing it.

“Mahirap na yung kami (congressmen or senators) and maggawa nang batas tungkol sa political dynasty. That would be self-serving. Sila na lang (Concon delegates), huwag na lang kami,” said Magsaysay whose two sons are running for vice mayor and congressman in her hometown in Zambales.

Political dynasty, according to Bishop Gerardo Alminaza, head convenor of the Visayas Clergy Discernment Group, can be a succession on the same line or family and powerful or influential group of family in government which continues in existence for a considerable time.

The 1987 Constitution, Section 26, Article II, provides that the State shall guarantee equal access to opportunities for public service and prohibit political dynasties as may be defined law. Politics in the Philippines have been under the control of a few notable families, the bishop said.

He said that many have called for the Congress to pass the anti-dynasty law, but these political dynasties which have consistently dominated Congress simply killed all attempts to pass anti-dynasty bills since 1987.

There are 178 dominant political families in the country excluding local areas. A hundred of which are old elites and 78 are new elites emerging from EDSA I in 1986 and 1987 post Marcos elections.

The House of Representatives and the Senate are also dominated by political families.

Even the Party-lists which are supposed to represent the marginalized sectors are represented by millionaires and multi-millionaires and members of political clans.

Magsaysay blamed the term limits imposed on elected officials as culprit why political dynasties are thriving.

Magsaysay is currently the representative of Zambales in the House of Representatives. — (FREEMAN)