We’re Fed Up With Political Dynasties

By Herbert Vego

THIS corner lauds retired Supreme Court Associate Justice Antonio Carpio, retired Ombudsman Conchita Carpio Morales, and former Commission on Elections (COMELEC) chairman Christian Monsod, for leading various cause-oriented groups in filing before the Supreme Court a petition for certiorari and mandamus to compel Congress to enact a law prohibiting political dynasties.

The prohibition would dismantle political monopolies and expand opportunities for more deserving people, ensuring that public office is based on merit rather than family influence

Monsod, incidentally, was one of the framers of the 1987 Constitution which states in Article II, Section 26, “The State shall guarantee equal access to opportunities for public service and prohibit political dynasties as may be defined by law.”

Because of this unimplemented Constitutional mandate, the petitioners also asked that Congress be required to pass the law within one year from receipt of the high tribunal’s decision granting their petition.

Unfortunately, no less than Senate President Francis Escudero predicted that the Supreme Court would not grant the petition, as it had dismissed a similar petition filed by one Ricardo Penson in 2013.

In this corner, I once commented, “The Constitutional Commission that framed the 1987 Constitution erred in entrusting to the House and the Senate the responsibility of substantiating the Constitution’s intent.”

Indeed, in a recent TV interview, Commissioner Monsod regretted, “We overestimated the spirit of EDSA and underestimated the greed of our lawmakers.”

The EDSA spirit – referring to the People Power revolution that toppled the dictatorial regime of President Ferdinand Marcos Sr. in 1986 – is a call for us Filipinos to set aside personal interests for the good of the nation.

Well, have our politicians done it?

No. On the contrary, our legislators have refused to pass a law defining and prohibiting political dynasties; again, despite the explicit obligation imposed by the Charter.

Had the 1987 Charter “defined” Article II, Section 26 of the Constitution, they could have crafted its implementing rules and regulations themselves.

The “greed of our lawmakers” explains why, as gathered by the Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism in 2024, 80% of Congressional districts today are ruled by political dynasties.

Look at the current Senate where members of the same families sit simultaneously– siblings Alan and Pia Cayetano, half-brothers Jinggoy Estrada and JV Ejercito, and mother and son Cynthia and Mark Villar.

They masquerade their power greed with the excuse, “It’s not ours but the people’s will that we have been elected.”

God forbid that two Tulfo brothers win the May 12 Senate race for a “threesome” with Sen. Raffy Tulfo.

But of course, there have been attempts by conscientious congressmen to file bills seeking to regulate political dynasties. Thirty of them, deliberately nipped in the bud, according to the petitioners.

One of those junked bills filed by then Congressman Edgar Erice of Caloocan City) provided, “No spouse, or person related within the second civil degree of consanguinity or affinity, whether legitimate or illegitimate, full or half-blood, to an incumbent elective official seeking re-election shall be allowed to hold or run for any local or national elective office in the same election.”

On second thought, if our selfish politicians are unwilling to give up their dynastic character, shouldn’t we do it for them?

The trick is simply to boot or vote them out of office on election day.

-oOo-

FIVE YEARS OF POWER TRANSFORMATION

IT has been five years since MORE Electric and Power Corporation (MORE Power) took over as the city’s electricity provider. In just that half decade, the company has turned the tide — modernizing the grid, enhancing reliability, and empowering communities with its steadfast commitment to progress.

Much more is expected in the next five years in upgrading the grid, enhancing reliability, and empowering communities with its steadfast commitment to progress.

As admitted by Mayor Jerry Treñas, the city now enjoys fewer disruptions, better voltage quality, and an overall improved energy experience, positioning Iloilo as a leader in power innovation in the region.

By conservative estimate, some P5 billion new investments in Iloilo City may have resulted from massive expansion of electricity coverage.

That is why, through his Executive Order No. 162, the mayor declared MORE Power President/CEO Roel Z. Castro an “Adopted Son” of Iloilo City.