People’s initiative eyed vs political dynasties

MANILA, Philippines - With Congress unlikely to pass a law against political dynasties, the only option left for concerned citizens may be to resort to people’s initiative as provided for under the Constitution, Commission on Elections (Comelec) Chairman Sixto Brillantes said yesterday.

“I do not expect the legislators to pass this, otherwise they would have passed this a long time ago,” Brillantes told senators in Filipino during a Senate hearing on the proposed anti-political dynasties bill.

The Constitution prohibits political dynasties but a law is needed for such prohibition to work.

“It (people’s initiative) is not only viable, that’s the only alternative. If the legislators do not want to pass the law, then the people must do this,” he added.

Brillantes said he would gladly take the lead in such an endeavor if a law against political dynasties fails to take off after his retirement from the Comelec.

Sen. Aquilino Pimentel III, chairman of the Senate committee on electoral reforms, admitted the futility of pushing for an anti-dynasty measure in the current Congress.

“There is no point in rushing this bill because the candidates for 2013 have already filed (their certificates of candidacies). We can’t have retroactive effect or prohibit those who have already filed,” Pimentel said.

“We will not rush this. We will study this very carefully so whatever is the product of committee, even though it is not approved under this Congress, will be the model law for future congresses in their attempt to enact an anti-dynasty law,” he added.

Former vice president Teofisto Guingona Jr. recalled that the Senate, of which he was a member, made the first attempt in 1987 or shortly after the present Constitution was adopted. 

Guingona said the fact that the bill was approved 16-4 with one abstention showed that this could be done through legislation.

He said that the problem was with the House of Representatives, many of whose members did not want to approve the bill.

“After one week, someone in the (House) rules committee came to see me and explained that there were many relatives among congressmen that it would be next to impossible to have it successfully approved in the House. So they put it aside, I could not do anything. If that is your decision, let’s leave it at that,” Guingona said. Guingona said former Bayan Muna Rep. Satur Ocampo also filed a bill in 2000 but this “never reached first base.”

Guingona admitted that there is an urgent need to address the problem of political dynasties.

“We believe that after 25 years the problem has gotten worse instead of getting better,” Guingona said.