Samson Alcantara: Anti-dynasty crusader

MANILA, Philippines - After several failed attempts to dismantle political dynasties from the sidelines, Samson Alcantara, a seasoned labor lawyer and professor, is seeking a Senate seat to continue his fight against dynasties in the political arena.

A Bar topnotcher in 1957, Alcantara has questioned before the Supreme Court several issues and government policies, including the duty of Congress to pass a law defining and prohibiting political dynasties.

He said he has made the abolition of political dynasties the centerpiece of his platform.

“I have been a law professor and Bar reviewer in several law schools and my students, many of them now occupy high government positions, have encouraged me to run and be an alternative to the members of political dynasties who are running,” the 77-year-old Alcantara said.

He said the “Constitution mandates equitable diffusion not only of wealth but of political power, and that political power must be exercised for the public good and not for the benefit of a few.”

The Social Justice Society, which he chairs, launched last year a signature campaign against political dynasties.

Alcantara has challenged before the high court the validity of the VAT Law, constitutionality of random drug testing by schools and employers, legality of the acts of local elective executives such as governors and mayors in pursuing their profession as movie stars while in office, the removal of the Pandacan oil depot and legality of increases in oil prices made simultaneously by gasoline companies.

He also questioned the legality of infocommercials of senatorial candidates even before the start of the campaign period.

Alcantara said he is not bothered by his poor ratings in surveys and nobody has discouraged him from running for senator.

However, he has a pending case against the Social Weather Stations (SWS) and Pulse Asia in connection with the conduct of pre-election surveys.

Alcantara was among the tail-enders in the surveys on the Filipinos’ senatorial preferences for the May 13 polls conducted by SWS and Pulse Asia.

He ranked 28th to 30th places in the Feb. 15-17 SWS survey.

On the other hand, Alcantara placed 25th to 32nd in the Feb. 24-28 survey of Pulse Asia.

“I don’t believe in surveys. As a matter of fact, I have a pending case with the Quezon City Regional Trial Court against SWS and Pulse Asia regarding the conduct of their surveys,” he said.

“I have been a teacher for the past 45 years. No friend or relative has scoffed at my chances,” he added.

If elected, Alcantara said he will push for the amendment of labor laws and measures to protect teachers, among others.

“This (education) is a great equalizer. But quality education is not possible without quality teachers. Measures should be taken to protect them against oppressive or discriminatory treatment by the government, private employers, parents and students,” he said.