The evils that family dynasties do to all of us

When one or two families, by deliberate intent and repeated willfulness, grab all the positions whether in local or national branches of government, then power is concentrated in only one privileged family or clan, to the exclusion of all others. If those who control the economy in one city or district also deliberately control political powers, then all the rest are marginalized. The country becomes their family corporation and the resources come under their complete control and domination.

Family dynasties make a mockery of our democracy and selfishly monopolize decision-making in the whole nation and in the locality. They make their own relatives practically the rulers and the rest of the people as their subjects and the local government units as their vassals. It cannot be fairly argued that anyway, they were elected, and it is the people who decide. That is a fallacy. The elections are farcical because the people are not given choices. When the poor try to run, they are immediately declared nuisance candidates. Only the rich can finance a national campaign, therefore to be bonafide candidates means to be well-funded, and well-connected.

I will call a spade a spade. I will not mince words, I will tell the truth. The Marcoses and the Dutertes are the most blatant examples of family dynasties. In the case of the Marcoses, the father is running for president, the aunt is an incumbent senator. The sons, daughters, nephews, and nieces are running for all the legislative and executive positions. The Dutertes, for the longest time, had been in control of Davao, father, daughter, son, and soon grandchildren most probably. That is why Marcos and Duterte are compatible. They are supported by the dynasties of GMA, Erap Estrada, and the Romualdez Clan of Leyte, as well as the Villar Empire of Las Piñas.

The same is true with the Singsons in Ilocos Sur, the Ortegas of La Union, the Dys and Albanos of Isabella, the Umalis of Nueva Ecija, the Suarez Clan of Quezon, the Angaras of Aurora, the Cojuangcos of Tarlac, the Espinos of Pangasinan, the Rectos of Batangas, the Revillas, Remullas, and Tolentinos of Cavite, the Gatchalians of Valenzuela, the Zamoras of San Juan, the Olivarez and Bernabe families of Parañaque, and the Cayetanos of Taguig. All the provinces, all the towns, and all the cities are in the hands of an elite family. The common folks rarely have a chance.

Here in Cebu, if you are not a Garcia, Osmeña, Rama, Salimbangon, Abellanosa, Del Mar, Durano, Martinez, Calderon, Radaza, Cortez, or Ouano, then you are nothing. You need to be extraordinarily rich, or exceedingly loved to be able to fight a dynasty. In Carcar, Naga, Danao, Mandaue, Lapu-Lapu, and Bogo, only one or two families are controlling political power; husband and wife, father and son, or brother and sister. It is a virtual family business. They make all the important decisions, control all the funds and claim all the credits but never accept responsibility for failures and debacles. They either blame Odette or COVID-19. Their dynasties do not accept accountability at all.

Once in a while, an unknown, unconnected extraordinary guy wins. But he or she must either be a famous basketball player, an actor, or a comedian with truckloads of money to neutralize the powers of dynasties. There are many better Cebuanos who are more competent, more honest, and more trustworthy. But they cannot wage a campaign for sheer lack of logistics and machinery. The bottom line is money, not intellect, not integrity. Our political system is rotten, in the hands of greedy dynasties. I told you, I do not mince words.

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