Angara seeks ban on political turncoatism

Sen. Edgardo Angara has filed a bill seeking a ban on political turncoatism and on parties’ fielding of criminals as candidates for national elections "to usher in a new regime of responsible and committed politics."

Angara is hopeful that Senate Bill 2041, also known as the Political Party Act of 2002, will be "a dramatic reform measure that will end years of ward politics and political chameleons."

Right now, elected officials can change parties at will, even immediately after an election, any number of times. A greater number of officials change parties with every change in administration.

"Turncoatism has mongrelized political parties, with no distinctive policies and principles separating them," he lamented.

Angara, national president of the Laban ng Demokratikong Pilipino, the biggest opposition party in the country, said that enhancing party loyalty is needed for a stronger democratic process.

Angara’s bill requires elected officials to resign and seek a new mandate should they change their party affiliation.

"The elected official who changes political party cannot be appointed to any public office within his term," Angara added.

Another key provision of the Political Party Act of 2002 seeks direct state subsidy for national political parties through a party development fund provided for in the national budget.

"Political parties whose national candidates garner 25 percent of the popular vote in the most recent general election shall qualify as beneficiaries of the fund," Angara said.

Political parties are banned from selecting criminals to run for elective positions. Those who will field criminals will be disqualified from enjoying state subsidies.

In addition to the ban on criminals, state subsidized political parties must promote accountability and transparency and submit statements of assets and liabilities to the Commission on Elections.

"The reform measure will hopefully lead to the development of issue-oriented and stronger political parties," Angara said. – Efren Danao