The far-reaching evils of family dynasties
The Philippine Constitution, particularly, Article II, Declaration of Principles and State Policies, Section 6 Provides: "The State shall guarantee equal access to opportunities for public service and prohibit family dynasties, as may be defined by law." Until today, there is no law that defines political dynasties, and nothing concrete has been put in place and translates into law the Philippine charter's anti-dynasty provision. The reason is obvious. The present members of Congress, to be realistic about it, are not expected to proceed because they are not expected to dismantle their own political monopolies in restraint of a truly democratic system where the people are really sovereign. The true evil of family dynasties is that they defeat the true purpose and essence of democracy.
If we look at the realities, most members of the legislature belong to one dynasty or another. Take for example a small province like Batanes, with a number of voters just as small as that of the municipality of Alcantara, Cebu. The Abad family, with former budget secretary Florencio Abad as head has been in control of Batanes for so long. The small island of Camiguin has been controlled by the Romualdo family, as Siquijor has been under the Fua family for decades. The province of La Union has been under the control of the Ortegas for more than a century now, and their hold has never been broken. The Josons control Nueva Ecija, Bataan under the Romans, Zambales under Magsaysay, Ilocos under the Singsons and the Crisologos, Bicol under the families of Imperials, Fuentebellas, Villafuertes, and Escuderos.
In Cavite, the family dynasties are the Remullas, the Revillas, the Abayas, the Maliksis, and the Tolentinos of Tagaytay. The Cojuangcos and Aquinos control Tarlac, as the Macapagal-Arroyos and Pinedas control Pampanga. The Marcoses control Ilocos and the Romualdezes, now Petillas control Leyte. It used to be the Velosos but they faded away with the sole exception of incumbent Vicente Ching Veloso. The Teveses controlled Negros Oriental as did the Lacsons and Montelibanos of Occidental Negros, and the Lopezes of Iloilo before (now the Garins and Defensors). In Mindanao, the Ampatuans, Mangudadatus, the Masturas, the Matalams, and the Sinsuats control Maguindanao. The Dimaporos, the Alontos, and the Adiongs lord it over in Lanao and the Uy family in Compostela Valley as well as in Zamboanga. The Jalosjos family used to control the Zamboanga peninsula but it is being challenged by smaller dynasties.
Cebu City used to be the exclusive turf of the Osmeñas and the Cuencos starting with Serging's Osmeña-Cuenco fusion. But the province of Cebu has long been out of the Osmeña influence. The north was controlled by Ramon Durano who used to have an alliance with Tereso Dumon of the north and Manuel Zosa and Ed Kintanar of the south. The Garcias of Dumanjug and Barili was a very powerful force during the GMA era, but when PNoy took over, Junjun Davide captured the Capitol, beating two brothers of Deputy Speaker Gwen: Pablo John and Winston. Davide is very hard to beat because he is much loved in the south, respected in the north, and well accepted in central Cebu. If his alliance with the vice governor holds, it will be an uphill battle for Rep. Gwen even if the Garcias team up with another Durano or a Salimbangon. Well, of course, if her pending case will not be a legal obstacle.
Yes, I can be wrong. In Philippine politics, even the impossible can happen. But no matter what happens, political dynasties are here to stay.
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