The 1987 Constitution is very clear in Article II, Sec. 26: “The State shall guarantee equal access to opportunities for public service, and prohibit political dynasties as may be defined by law.”
Unfortunately, it’s a provision that’s been honored more in the breach than heeded with proper respect by many of our politicians, not just at the local but even national levels.
The end-result of the wanton disregard of the noble intent of the fundamental law has been the proliferation of political families intent in holding on to power for as long as they can.
What the framers of the 1987 Constitution forgot to consider, in leaving it to the legislature to craft an anti-dynasty, is that many of our lawmakers are themselves members of entrenched political families and unwilling to easily give up power and privileges that come with high office.
But there’s a growing clamor for the Constitution’s anti-dynasty provision to be acted upon by the two chambers of Congress.
Recently, a group of retired government officials, including police and military generals, called on the government to finally pass a law prohibiting political dynasties. They were one in saying political dynasties breed corruption, which worsens poverty and injustice.
The Advocates for National Interest believe checks and balances in government should be tightened to revitalize the economy. This could be done by the proper use of public funds “so that they are not reduced, not squandered and not wasted… by the corrupt,” they said.
“To institutionalize good governance by elected and appointed officials, the Constitutional provision on removing political dynasties should be legislated as soon as possible, and electoral reforms to do away with money politics be initiated and implemented in due time, before the next national and local elections in May 2025,” the group said.
We agree.
Numerous attempts as early as the 8th Congress in 1987 were made to introduce an antipolitical dynasty law to effect electoral and political reforms, but all have gone for naught, precisely because many of our lawmakers come from political clans.
A 2019 study by the Ateneo de Manila University’s School of Government found there were high levels of poverty and inequalities in areas where political dynasties thrive, especially in the provinces.
Citing data during the 2019 elections, 80 percent of governors, 67 percent of House representatives, and 53 percent of mayors came from “fat” political dynasties — or those when there are several members of a family holding government positions at the same time.
Among the provinces, Maguindanao had the most officials belonging to a dynasty, eating up about 50.54 percent of political posts.
No lawmaker in the House of Representatives has filed an antipolitical dynasty bill in the current 19th Congress. In the Senate, only Sen. Grace Poe filed Senate Bill No. 548 which aims to define and prohibit political dynasties.
The bill, however, languished at the committee level after its first reading in August 2022.
Are we surprised at all?
