Political dynasties to dominate 2013 polls

MANILA, Philippines -  Political dynasties continue to dominate the country’s electoral system, with the expansion of turfs by veteran politicians and the emergence of new political families in the May 2013 polls.

For the senatorial race alone, the Center for People Empowerment in Governance (CenPeg) observed that four candidates had come from the bloodlines of former presidents.

They are Ramon Magsaysay Jr. and Paolo Benigno Aquino IV, both running under the Liberal Party (LP) coalition, and Mitos Magsaysay and JV Ejercito of the United Nationalist Alliance (UNA).

“If elected, (they) will increase the number of senators who are blood relatives of former presidents to seven from the current three – Sergio Osmeña III, Jinggoy Estrada, and Bongbong Marcos,” the CenPeg report said.

The other senatorial bets who are either reelectionists, come-backing politicians or who come from political families are Cagayan Rep. Juan Ponce “Jack” Enrile Jr., son of last-termer Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile; former Tarlac governor Margarita Cojuangco, maternal aunt of President Aquino; and former senators Juan Miguel Zubiri, Ernesto Maceda and Richard Gordon; and Nancy Binay, eldest daughter of Vice President Jejomar Binay, all of UNA, and former Las Piñas representative Cynthia Villar, wife of last-termer Sen. Manny Villar; reelectionist Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano; Aurora Rep. Juan Edgardo Angara, son of last-termer Sen. Edgardo Angara, all of LP; and reelectionist Sen. Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III of PDP-Laban.

CenPeg said political dynasties “are more blatant and active today.”

“Definitely alarming today is the entrenchment of the system of political dynasties on a higher and more blatant scale, making the fair representation of the large majority of Filipinos even more elusive,” the group said.

Cenpeg noted the “conditions to form ‘more of the same’ are more encouraging than ever under the administration of P-Noy, himself a benefactor of this culture of political patronage.”

The group estimates that almost 50 percent of the country’s current political dynasties “owe their ascendancy to post-Marcos (1986) political deals when most elective positions were filled up by appointees of then President Corazon Aquino, including the Ampatuans of the infamous Maguindanao massacre.”

“Membership in a political dynasty is a guarantee to its preservation. Whether in the national or local level, membership provides a political clout to amass more wealth, hence, to secure enduring political power,” CenPeg added.

The group said traditionally, the “turnover of elective positions by end-termers to their heirs-apparent – spouses, children, or other relatives – helps preserve the dynasties.”

“Elections are tilted in favor of the rich and celebrities and are inherently vulnerable to fraud. Elections provide the mechanism for conferring legitimacy to elite power and create the illusion once every three years that ‘change’ is possible,” CenPeg added. 

Emerging dynasties

The culture of political dynasties is also replicated in the local elections, where some candidates come from the bloodlines of the country’s biggest names in politics.

They include Vice President Binay’s children, reelectionist Makati Mayor Jejomar Binay and Abigail Binay who is running as representative of Makati City.

There are also bets from the Ejercito-Estrada clan, including ER Ejercito for Laguna governor; his wife Pagsanjan, Laguna Mayor Maita Sanchez-Ejercito, who is seeking reelection; Gary Estrada, who is running for another term as provincial board member in Quezon province; Sen. Jinggoy Estrada’s daughter Janella for San Juan councilor; reelectionist San Juan Mayor Guia Gomez, mother of JV Ejercito; and Jesse Ejercito’s daughter Jana who is running as congresswoman of San Juan.

The others are the Revilla clan in Cavite, the Macapagal-Arroyo family in Pampanga, and the feuding Villafuerte family in the Bicol region.

But what is also alarming, according to Ramon Casiple, executive director of Institute for Political and Electoral Reform, is the emergence of new political dynasties.

One of those seen to be building an empire in politics is boxing icon and Sarangani Rep. Manny Pacquiao, who is seeking reelection.

His wife Jinkee is running for governor of the province while his younger brother is eyeing the congressional seat for the first district of South Cotabato.

“That’s how a political dynasty starts. Someone from the family who is popular and winnable will try to run and if he succeeds, other members of the family will follow. It’s like testing the water. Power can be addictive,” Casiple said.

The past decade had seen the rise of the children of “Plastics King” William Gatchalian in Valenzuela City politics.

Valenzuela Mayor Sherwin Gatchalian is ending his term next year and is now running as congressman of the city’s first district, exchanging places with his brother Rep. Rex Gatchalian.

Casiple added political dynasties expand “horizontally” or among siblings and cousins and “vertically” or among grandparents, parents and grandchildren or nieces and nephews.

Unconstitutional

According to Commission on Elections (Comelec) Commissioner Rene Sarmiento, political dynasties are unconstitutional.

Section 26, Article II of the 1987 Philippine Constitution says “the State shall guarantee equal access to opportunities for public service and prohibit political dynasties as may be defined by law.”

A member of the Constitutional Convention that formulated the 1987 Constitution, Sarmiento said this provision was ratified by 76.29 percent of the population on Feb. 2, 1897 but no enabling law has been passed to implement it until now.

“When we were formulating the Constitution, the situation was unstable. There were many coups d’etat so we decided to just leave it up to the Congress (to come up with an enabling law). But until now there’s none. It’s a pity because majority of the Filipinos have ratified that,” he said.

Sarmiento warned the presence of political dynasties contributes to electoral violence. “Positions have become like inheritance that you pass from one generation to another. Political dynasty is part of our political history and it’s time we address it,” he added.

Comelec Chairman Sixto Brillantes, however, does not see the culture of political dynasty ending in the near future because legislators are not likely to stop it.

“It is very bad for us… It is understandable why they don’t want to come up with an enabling law because they will be the ones to be affected. Do you think they will do that?” he said.

Weak party system

Casiple added the presence of political dynasties indicates the weakness of the country’s multi-party system.

During the Marcos era, Casiple pointed out there were only a few political parties and the selection of candidates had to go through a voting process during their national convention.

“Before, there were only few political parties and you fight it out within the party. You show your partymates that you are the most qualified to run. You really worked hard for it,” he said.

But under the present system, Casiple lamented, the candidates are chosen because of “winnability” or popularity or if you are family members, relatives or close allies of those already in power.

“The danger there is you can put to position people who are not really ready for the job and the ones who will suffer are the people,” he added.

Casiple warned the turncoating that results from the multi-party system had also weakened the “opposition” in Philippine politics.

“Just like now, UNA is saying they are not the opposition, so who is the opposition? The check-and-balance in the legislative is no longer there.”

Casiple underscored the need to reform the political party system to facilitate and stabilize regime policy in the country.

Presently pending is Senate Bill No. 3214, or the Political Party Development Act, seeking to institutionalize reforms in the financing of electoral campaigns, transparency and accountability; provide subsidies to political parties to augment their campaign expenditures and to promote party discipline and loyalty.

Family legacy

Candidates Bam Aquino and Sonny Angara reasoned out that their families are in power because the people voted for them.

Angara said he also believes that voters should choose a candidate not because of his name or his relatives but because of what he can do for them.

“This election, we should not give the members of the political dynasties a free ride. Let’s look at their qualifications and what they have done and what they intend to do in government,” he said.

Angara admitted his family is seen to have built a dynasty in politics.

“Yes, I think we’re a dynasty. But we are different because we have legacy. We have been (in power for years) and we invite the public to see what we have done during this period and compare them to other dynasties,” he said.

Angara insisted “dynasties per se are not bad” but voters should be discerning and not let themselves be swayed by names.

For his part, Bam said he is proud to be a nephew of martyred former senator Benigno “Ninoy” Aquino Jr. and the late President Corazon Aquino “who have given their lives for the country.”

“I think when it comes to family and politics, we need to look into their track records. In our case I think we have a history of public service that I will be extremely proud to be part of,” said Bam, who is running for an elective post for the first time.

Bam added voters should see beyond political lineage to make sure that only qualified candidates will be put in power in next year’s elections.