Bam Aquino favors anti-dynasty law

BACOLOD CITY, Philippines  â€” Senatorial aspirant Paolo Benigno “Bam” Aquino IV is in favor of passing into law the Anti-Political Dynasties Bill but that Congress should properly define what a “political dynasty is.”

Aquino, who was in this city recently, said the version of Senator Miriam Defensor-Santiago defines dynasty as involving politicians from parents to children and siblings.

In his case, Bam said he is a cousin of President Benigno Aquino III, and if Santiago’s version of the bill is passed, then he is excluded under the political dynasty category.

“For me, a political dynasty is a family of politicians with vested interest. The Aquinos have no vested interest.. some of them gave their lives for the country,” he said.

Bam’s statement came a day after the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) expressed support for a people’s initiative to put an end to political dynasties.

In a four-page pastoral statement issued after its 106th Plenary Assembly, the CBCP listed “the widening practice of political dynasties” as among the problems the country is facing.

CBCP president Cebu Archbishop Jose Palma said the Church denounces the continued existence of political dynasties and the delay in the passage of a law that prohibits these.

“As monopolies in business, monopolies in politics limit the entry that can bring in new ideas and offer better services. Political dynasties breed corruption and ineptitude. We are aggrieved that lawmakers themselves defy the supreme law of the land by not following the mandate of our Constitution given 26 years ago to make an enabling law to ban political dynasties,” said the CBCP.

If Bam gets a Senate seat in the May 2013 elections, he would be the 6th senator under the Aquino lineage. There were five Aquino senators before Bam: his paternal grandfather, Benigno Sr., elected senator in 1928.; Benigno Sr.’s children—Benigno Jr (Ninoy) in 1968, Agapito in 1986; and Teresita in 1998.

Benigno Jr.’s son, Benigno III (Noynoy or PNoy), was elected senator in 2007 but cut short his term when elected president in 2010.

Now, the youngest senatorial aspirant at 36, Bam’s candidacy has been criticized, with critics saying he is inexperienced and will just toe the line of President Aquino all the time.

Bam however said being the cousin of the president has advantages and disadvantages. “Those who like the president will be kinder to me, but those who don’t like him oftentimes automatically dislike me,” he said.

Bam graduated summa cum laude from the Ateneo de Manila University with a degree in Bachelor of Science in Management Engineering. He was a Jose Rizal Most Outstanding Model student in 1999, and chair of the National Youth Commission in 2003.

Last year, he was a recipient of the Ten Outstanding Young Persons of the World award for his work in social entrepreneur.  (FREEMAN)