Filipino politicians’ shameless ‘Game of Thrones’
It is quite disappointing that, instead of being reduced to its barest minimum, family dynasties continue to rise in unprecedented proportions. Here in Cebu, we do not have to name these family dynasties. Everyone knows who they are. Let us just focus on the national political scene. There is the Estrada-Ejercito clan not only in San Juan City but also in Manila and in Laguna. The patriarch, former president Joseph “Erap”’ Estrada is running for reelection as mayor of Manila. His daughter Jerika is running for councilor in the same city. His two sons are running for senator – Jinggoy, who is out on bail from detention for alleged plunder, and incumbent senator JV from another woman, who is an outgoing mayor of San Juan. There was a time when both Erap’s wife, Dra. Loi and Jinggoy were sitting in the Senate, the mother and son. Many of the Estradas are running again in San Juan, while JR, a nephew, is running again for governor of Laguna. Gary Estrada is running for vice mayor in Cainta, Rizal.
The Cayetanos of Taguig is another expanding dynasty. Former senator and secretary of Foreign Affairs Alan Peter is running again for congressman to represent the Taguig-Pateros district. His sister, incumbent representative and former senator Pia Cayetano, is the one trying to go back to the Senate. Alan Peter’s wife will run for reelection for Taguig City mayor, while movie director Lino Cayetano, a younger brother of Alan Peter, is running for another elective post.
The Binays of Makati are having an internal feud, with former mayor Junjun contesting the mayoral post now being occupied by his elder sister Abigail. Nancy Binay is running for reelection and she is poised to support Junjun, while former vice president Jejomar Binay is running for congressman.
The same is true with the Revillas and Remullas in Cavite, as well as the Tolentinos in Tagaytay, the Ynareses of Rizal and the Rectos in Batangas. In Pampanga, the Pinedas continue to dominate the province but they are being challenged by the Lapids. Lito Lapid (now of the provinciano fame) is running for senator again. His son is running for mayor of Porac. The Umalis of Nueva Ecija are being challenged by the comebacking Joson brothers. In Bulacan, the Sy-Alvarados, the Mendozas, and the Silverios continue to dominate the political scene just like the Cojuamgcos in Tarlac, the Ortegas of La Union, the Espinos of Pangasinan, the Singsons of Ilocos Sur and the Marcoses of Ilocos Norte, the Dys in Isabela (where the Dy brothers are running against each other) and the Angaras of Aurora.
In Mindanao, the Dimaporos of Lanao, the Ampatuans and Magudadatus, the Adiongs, the Nograleses, del Rosarios, Floirendos, the Tans of Sulu and Matbas and Sahalis of Tawi-Tawi, and the Hatamans of Basilan, and the many other clans are dominating the politics and other spheres of life.
Why are these families always running for public offices? Why do they seem to believe that they are God’s gift to the Filipino people? Why don’t they give others a chance? Why do they treat the government posts as thrones to inherit from their fathers and mothers? Don’t they have other means of livelihood?
I do not know about you, but I and my family are not voting for any political dynasty. These dynasties are bane of Philippine politics. All of them should be voted out of office, and not one of them should be trusted again.
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