2 Senatorial bets push anti-dynasty law

MANILA, Philippines - Two independent senatorial candidates on Wednesday said they would be pushing for the enactment of law that would eliminate political dynasties in the country.

Lawyers Samson Alcantara, co-founding of the Social Justice Society; and businessman Ric Penson both expressed intentions advocating the passage of an anti-dynasty measure through a people's initiative.

Alcantara said they have prepared a petition to gather signatures enough  to jumpstart a referendum.

"Ang dynasty kailangan ma-prohibit talaga under our Constitution pero general sa Constitution as maybe provided by law. Ang problema walang batas kasi most of them (legislators) come from political dynasties and families," Alcantara told a media forum in San Juan City.

He said the SJS has filed a petition before Congress in 2002 for lawmakers to define what is political dynasty.

"Mayroon na kaming proposed na batas na sinusulong namin so sa amin up to third civil degree whether by affinity or by consanguinity, both in  appointive or legislative positions," said Alcantara, who has been teaching labor law in various schools including New Era University, Manuel L. Quezon University and University of Sto. Tomas.

He said he is banking on the support of SJS and his students to get a seat at the Senate in next year's mid term elections.

"Hindi ko masasabing mananalo , hindi ko rin masasabing matatalo rin ako...nag rerely ako sa suporta ng aking mga estudyante. I've been a law teacher for 40 years," Alcantara said.

For his part, Penson, who belongs to the group Krusada Kontra Dynasty, said they do not expect the Supreme Court to act on a petition for a judicial review of anti-dynasty provision in the Constitution.

"We cannot launch a mandamus or a judicial review because everybody knows we have a non proactive Supreme court....what remains for us to do is people's initiative," said Penson, a student activist during the Marcos administration.

He also challenged other candidates to sign a covenant or petition to push for the passage of the anti-dynasty law.

"Hinahamon namin ang ibang kandidato na pirmahan natin ito. Sign a covenant with the people at kung di ma-enforce ito, mag reresign kami by 2016," Penson said.

He also scored both the big political blocs and coalitions, Liberal  Party and the United Nationalist Alliance, for coming out with senatorial slates consisting of the same political families.

"Iyong inilatag ng LP, at yung oposisyon, UNA. Out of 95 million na magagaling na Pilipino pero hindi tayo makuha ng isang dosena na tatakbo. Yung tatlong kandidato guest candidates pa. Lokohan na ito," Penson said.

Under the people's initiative mode, the petitioners should gather signatures of at least three percent of the number of registered voters per congressional district in the country.

After complying with the requirement, the petition would be then submitted to the Commission on Election for verification of the signatures. A referendum follows if the petition meets all the requirements.

Both Penson and Alcantara were among the last five senatorial bets allowed by the Commission on Elections to run in the 2013 mid-term elections.