2016 bets urged to disclose stand on ‘sincerity bills’

MANILA, Philippines - Sen. Miriam Defensor-Santiago challenged all those who are planning to run for higher office in May 2016 to reveal their stands on three pending measures to show their sincerity in serving the public.

In a statement, Santiago said voters could test the sincerity of the candidates by asking them their positions on these proposed bills: anti-political dynasty, anti-premature campaigning and anti-epal.

She argued that self-serving politicians would naturally be averse to the “sincerity bills” and would be against the measures.

“Self-interest naturally ensures that politicians who will be adversely affected by any of these laws will actively campaign and even vote against it. But if these early presidential contenders mean what they say in media, they must lobby for these bills,” Santiago said.

Among the presidential candidates who have spoken against one of the bills – the anti-political dynasty – is Vice President Jejomar Binay, who recently aired his interest in having Santiago as his running mate.

“The Constitution regards political dynasties as evil, but the battle against such evil must now be led by Congress, many of whose members suffer from a conflict of interest on the subject of political dynasties,” Santiago, who filed two versions of the anti-political dynasty bill, said.

If approved, Senate Bills 55 and 1580 will prohibit relatives within the second civil degree of consanguinity or affinity from running for public office at the same time, within the same province, city or municipality, or from occupying at the same time national positions such as those in the House of Representatives and the Senate.