Pro-admin alliance launched in Cebu

CEBU, Philippines - Various civil society organizations in the country gathered in Cebu Friday to call for a continued fight for political and fiscal reforms as well as mechanisms for transparency under the present administration.

The groups launched a “Koalisyon ng Mamamayan Para sa Reporma,” a national gathering of organizations and individuals who have been fighting against “dictatorship and corrupt governments and practices.”

They are calling on the Congress to pass a legislation prohibiting political dynasties, which they described as “threats” to the country’s democracy, before President Benigno Aquino III’s term ends.

“…the 1987 Constitution tasked government to guard our reacquired democracy by declaring that ‘The State shall guarantee equal access to opportunities for public service and prohibit political dynasties as may be defined by law.’  Unfortunately, 27 years since the constitutional ratification and several governments after, a law has yet to be passed prohibiting political dynasties,” the groups said in their “unity statement.”

They quoted Supreme Court Associate Justice Antonio Carpio as saying that political dynasty is a “phenomenon that concentrates political power and public resources within the control of a few families whose members alternately hold elective offices, deftly skirting term limits.”

The groups added that although there would not be a need to enact such law under normal circumstances, but the current conditions, they said, are “far from being normal.”

“As recent trends show that instead of democratizing, our country is ‘monarchizing’ because of the political dynasty phenomenon,” the groups stated.

A bill prohibiting poli-tical dynasties has now reached the House plenary for debate while another version of the same legislation is being discussed in the Senate.

KOMPRe further called on the executive department to exhaust all possible means to “pressure” Congress in passing the anti-political dynasty bill.

Likewise, the electorate are urged to also pressure their district representatives in supporting the passage of this bill, KOMPRe added.

KOMPRe is composed of the big groups which are the Urban Poor Alliance, Change Politics Movement, People Power Volunteers for Reform, Akbayan Citizens’ Party, Mamamayang Liberal, and Student Council Alliance of the Philippines.

It was launched first on August 25 this year at Ateneo University in Manila.

Lester Ouano of Akbayan, the event’s lead convenor, said the launching signifies “strong support” of various CSOs in the province in pushing for reforms.

The pro-administration KOMPRe’s launching happened in time of Vice President Jejomar Binay’s visit in Cebu. But the lead convenor denied that the launching was made to undermine Binay’s visits.

KOMPRe’s slogan states “Walang iwanan sa tuwid na daan”, which the groups said should continue beyond 2016.

When asked if KOMPRe would have its bet for presidential post in 2016, Ernesto Ramel Jr., of the Office of the President-Political Affairs, did not mention name but said, “Susoportahan niya (KOMPRe) po kung sino ang iindorso ng pangulo at  sino po yong walang kaduda-duda na isusulong ang reporma beyond 2016.”

Aside from pushing for the Anti-Political Dynasty law, KOMPRe is also urging Congress to pass Sangguniang Kabataan reform and the Freedom of Information bill. (FREEMAN)