Noy modifies stand, backs anti-dynasty bill

MANILA, Philippines - Two years before he steps down, President Aquino surprisingly modified his previous reluctant stand in passing the controversial anti-dynasty bill, hinting this time that he will sign it as soon as Congress passes the measure.

“Once they (lawmakers) are finished with it, I’m ready to sign it into law,” he said last Wednesday in an interview with Bombo Radyo.

Aquino reminded the public that this bill, which underwent rough sailing in the dynasty-dominated Senate and House of Representatives, has been supported by no less than Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr.

And this is why the measure is gaining ground and momentum in the House, he said.

Aquino said having political dynasties in the grassroots level, or giving political clans the sole power to wield influence in their territory where they control almost everything, will not be good for government in the long run.

“Like one family with everything economic, political, and sometimes even the judicial and security sector all are their relatives, that would make it harder to have what we call free and honest elections,” he added.

Aquino’s latest pronouncements, however, were a far cry from the rather safe remarks he made last January when he rejected calls for him to certify the bill as urgent, saying this is not among the priority measures he wanted passed.

“That (anti-political dynasty bill) is not given the highest priority in the meantime,” he told Palace reporters in an interview at the Filinvest Corporate City in Alabang, Muntinlupa after the ceremonies held for the Outstanding Filipinos (Tofil) in 2013.

“But if we can see that it is doable, then why not?” he added.

Aquino was asked the question after Caloocan Rep. Edgar Erice wrote the Chief Executive and asked him to certify the bill as urgent.

He said he wanted to read the proposed bill first before making any comment.

“Well, I’d like to read the whole text first. We are preoccupied with so many things right now, both in the domestic and international scene. So, I want to see for myself first all the details. Please bear with me,” Aquino said.

Erice’s House Bill 3587, entitled “An Act prohibiting the establishment of political dynasties,” is pending in the House of Representatives.

It proposes to prohibit relatives up to the second degree of consanguinity or affinity to hold or run for both national and local election positions in successive, simultaneous or overlapping terms, Erice said.

Erice’s bill is seen to be an attack against Vice President Jejomar Binay – the current frontrunner in the May 2016 presidential polls.

The move is believed to be against the family of the vice president, whose children hold public office – Makati Mayor Junjun Binay, Rep. Abigail Binay and Sen. Nancy Binay. His wife Elenita also served as mayor of Makati.

“It is the constitutional duty of Congress to enact a law defining and prohibiting the establishment of political dynasties in accordance with the intent of Section 26, Article 2 of the 1987 Constitution,” Erice said in his letter to Aquino.

“While several bills of similar significance had been filed in the past, these were never acted upon during the previous Congress through the manipulation of unscrupulous politicians,” he said.