Two lawmakers on Tuesday opposed the inclusion of an “anti-political dynasty” provision in the proposed Charter change.
At the resumption of the Cha-Cha hearing conducted by the House committee on constitutional amendments, Representatives Antonio Albano of Isabela and Johnny Pimentel of Surigao del Sur dismissed as “anti-democratic” the proposed provision not to allow relatives within the second degree of consanguinity to run in the same elections.
The two congressmen urged the House committee on constitutional aments, chaired by Cagayan de Oro City Rep. Rufus Rodriguez, to defer approval of the proposed anti-political dynasty provision as it is “a very contentious and very controversial issue.”
“This is very anti-democratic because there are families elected democratically,” said Albano, brother of Isabela Gov. Rodolfo Albano III.
The congressman from Isabela said “strengthening of political reforms and educating people is more important than limiting the democratic right of a person to run and be voted upon, whether he is a spouse, a son, a brother, or a sister.”
The committee, headed by Cagayan de Oro City Rep. Rufus Rodriguez, deliberated on the measure proposing to rewrite the Charter as well as proposed amendments submitted by the Inter-Agency Task Force on Federalism and Constitutional Reform composed of 11 member-agencies of the government.
Among the proposed aments was the prohibition of spouses or relatives within the second civil degree of consanguinity of an incumbent official to run for the same position in the succeeding elections; even as they are not allowed allowed to simultaneously hold positions for governor and vice governor as well as mayor and vice mayor.
Albano frowned on the proposed amendments as this "curtails" the right of the people to choose their leaders.
For his part, Pimentel, brother incumbent Surigao del Sur governor, Alexander Pimentel, echoed Albano's opposition.
“We are curtailing already the right of the ordinary citizen to vote. It is the right of the people to vote, to put in place who would be their congressman, their governor,” Pimentel said.