Senator Pangilinan: 'Kung walang dynasty, walang korap'

Senator Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan said breaking the grip of political dynasties is key to tackling both corruption and poverty in the Philippines, as he renewed the call for the passage of an anti-political dynasty law.

The law was recently tackled in the Senate Committee on Electoral Reforms and People’s Participation joint hearing with the Committee on Constitutional Amendments and Revision of Codes including the bills filed by Senators Robinhood Padilla, Panfilo Lacson, Erwin Tulfo, Risa Hontiveros, Bam Aquino, JV Ejercito, and Pangilinan himself.

In separate instances during his conversations with the resource persons, the senator raised the idea that ending political dynasties would also help solve the country’s long-standing and persistent problems.

“So we can say – kung walang dynasty, walang mahirap,” he told Dr. Carmel Abao of the Ateneo de Manila University when he inquired about a research paper on the higher prevalence of poverty in communities where there are “fat dynasties.”

In another remark, Pangilinan also said, “So pwedeng sabihin: Kung walang dynasty, walang korap.”

Fat dynasties refer to political clans where multiple family members hold various government positions at the same time.

Noting the anti-dynastic clamor from the public, Pangilinan cited a Pulse Asia Survey last December that showed that more than half of Filipinos believe that an anti-dynasty law can solve systemic corruption in government.

With the Philippines facing the massive multi-billion-peso flood control corruption mess, the senator emphasized that it is now the “perfect timing” to pass the anti-political dynasty law.

“Perfect timing ito para ugatin ang mga problema, isulong ang mga solusyon, yung concentration ng kapangyarihan at kayamanan sa Pilipinas,” he said, adding that it would also “level the playing field” and allow for “new blood” to enter into honest public service.

“Araw-araw, ang mayorya ng ordinaryong mamamayang Pilipino ay lumalaban ng patas para mabuhay—sa bukid, sa karagatan, sa trabaho, sa opisina, sa negosyo,” Pangilinan stated. “Subalit sa larangan ng politika, hindi patas ang labanan. Lalo na’t ‘pag buong angkan ang kalaban ng iisa o iilang kandidato. Hindi ito makatarungan. Hindi ito demokratiko. Dapat baguhin ito.”

The senator has filed Senate Bill No. 285, or the Anti-Political Dynasty Law, calling for the end of dynastic political families that hold multiple and successive elected positions, controlling much of the government’s resources and keeping political power amongst the few.

Pangilinan, who chairs the Senate Committee on Constitutional Amendments and Revision of Codes, said that the 1987 Philippine Constitution, which turns 39 years this month, mandates that the State must prohibit political dynasties and instead must guarantee equal access to public service.

In SB 285, the senator proposes that any person with a political dynasty relationship—spouses or relatives within the second degree of consanguinity or affinity—shall not be allowed to run or hold public office either simultaneously or consecutively. 

-Paraluman News