JV on dynasties: Power should not be held by a few

MANILA, Philippines — The Senate Committee on Electoral Reforms and People's Participation will take up this week the bills prohibiting political dynasties in government.

According to the schedule of committee meetings, the Senate panel will hold a hearing on the three versions of the proposed Anti-Political Dynasty Act.

In a radio interview on Wednesday, Senate President Franklin Drilon lamented that the constitutional provision on political dynasties still has no enabling law after 27 years.

"Sa panibagong usapin sa Anti-Dynasty Bill, atin pong dinggin at pag-aaralan ng mabuti kung ano ang kagustuhan talaga ng taong bayan," Drilon said. "Naniniwala po tayo na malaki ang magagawa ng Anti-Political Dynasty Bill sa sistema ng pamumulitika sa bansa."

Senator JV Ejercito, author of one of the anti-dynasty bills, said many Filipinos are qualified to become government leaders, but they are not given the opportunity to hold public office.

"We're already reaching about a hundred million in population. I do believe that power should not be held by just a few, whether economic or political power," Ejercito said in an interview with ANC's Headstart on Wednesday.

Ironically, Ejercito is from a known political dynasty in the country. His father, former President Joseph Estrada, is the incumbent Manila city mayor.

His half-brother, Senator Jinggoy Estrada, is currently his colleague in the 16th Congress.

Ejercito's measure, Senate Bill 1906, seeks to guarantee equal access and opportunity to public office and service by prohibiting political dynasties.

Under his proposed law, no spouse or relative within the second degree of consanguinity or affinity of an incumbent elective official seeking re-election shall be allowed to hold or run for any position in the same province in the same election.

The same relatives of an incumbent elective national official shall also be disqualified from running in the same province where the latter is a registered voter.

Candidates, including their spouses, who are related to one another within the second degree of consanguinity or affinity shall also be disqualified from holding or running for any local elective office in the same province in the same election.

Ejercito's bill will also not allow people related to an incumbent official within the prohibited degree from succeeding to the position of the latter.

Besides Ejercito, Senator Miriam Defensor-Santiago has also filed two separate measures on political dynasties.