Just say no to political dynasties

I do not tire quoting the eminent Dr. Vicente Sinco, former president of the University of the Philippines, in his characterization of the Declaration of State Principles found in Article II of our Constitution as the “political creed of the nation”. This article in our fundamental law “lays down the policies the government is bound to observe.” Section 26 of Article II of the 1987 Philippine Constitution provides that “The State shall guarantee equal access to opportunities for public service, and prohibit political dynasties as may be defined by law.” 1986 Constitutional Commissioner Rene V. Sarmiento explained the rationale of prohibiting political dynasties thus; “By including this provision, we widen the opportunities of competent, young and promising poor candidates to occupy important positions in the government.”

The internet showed me that a political dynasty is a family in which multiple members, often several generations or multiple siblings, are involved in electoral politics. Members may be related by blood or marriage. Accordingly, “studies show that political dynasties self-perpetuate and undermine the quality of democracy xxx (their) persistence could be linked to deeper poverty and underdevelopment.”

Perhaps because the term political dynasty is a coinage of the 1986 Constitutional Commission, and therefore not an old ideological concept, not much literature has been written about it. Rene Gorospe though in his work on Political Law said that “To the extent that the access to public office and service is restricted or otherwise constricted by any means to concentrate powers in the hands of a few specially entrenched families, to that extent may the idea of a participatory democracy be defeated and rendered illusory. If a handful of families believe that public office is some sort of heirloom to be passed on from generation to generation then that would effectively serve to shut out those who may be considered outsiders - the non-members.”

Sounding like broken record, I need to talk again about political dynasty because we’re in a political season. I consider it as a socio-political aberration that somehow limits competition for elective position, exacerbates corruption to horrible levels, and without our knowing it, drives many of our underprivileged countrymen to abject poverty. Of course, political dynasty, according to a study, increases abuse of power.

Our lawmakers know the constitutional principle to prohibit political dynasties. Yet no one among them seems willing to breathe life to a statutory enactment of such meat and substance. It is understandable though because our political terrain is flooded by families of politicians. They will not yield their power, attendant irresistible influence, and encompassing privileges. No legislator will sponsor a bill against his family’s interest.

That being the case, it behooves upon all of us, non-politicians, to take it upon ourselves to try our best to give meaning to Section 26, Article II of our Constitution by discarding political families this coming 2025 elections. Let us just scan the horizon and it is easy to identify them.

We do not anymore need Senator Imee Marcos. Her brother is already our president and Marcos family members reportedly occupy most elective positions in Ilocos Norte. Senator Mark Villar is enough to protect the billions of Villar wealth. Let us not elect his sister Camille. Senator Alan Peter Cayetano can carry on an intellectual debate in our Senate without his sister Pia echoing his arguments. We already voted Senator Raffy Tulfo, a reported college dropout, as the number 3 senator in the 2022 election. There is no need to add two more Tulfos in the Senate. We once were served by Vice President Jejomar Binay and there is an outgoing Senator Nancy Binay. Let us skip Abby Binay and vote for another candidate for senator from another family.