Democracy Watch lauds the initiative of the 13 senators who signed the consolidated bill banning political dynasties, namely Senate Minority Leader Franklin Drilon, Risa Hontiveros, Loren Legarda, Panfilo “Ping” Lacson, Grace Poe, JV Ejercito, Bam Aquino, Nancy Binay, Sonny Angara, Ralph Recto, Leila de Lima, Sherwin “Win” Gatchalian, and Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan.
Despite coming from political families, Senators Ejercito, Binay, Angara, and Gatchalian understand that there is an urgent need to level the political playing field by distributing political power and opening the opportunity for the best Filipino talent to aspire for public service.
Dynasties restrict choice!
Defenders of political clans say that the people should have the choice to vote for their preference regardless if they come from the same family. But this disregards the entrenched advantage that political families have established after decades of dominance. Deeply-rooted network of political forces gives political dynasties unbeatable when mobilized for electing the next heir of the family. If democracy is about the people’s right to freely choose, dynasties already restrict choice by allowing certain candidates to enjoy this undue advantage.
Thus, an anti-dynasty law will allow more Filipinos with the competence, experience, commitment to developmental change and dynamism to participate in a new era of politics and governance. This would also lead to an equally overdue transformation of political parties, as they will be forced to advocate the best platforms and present the truly deserving candidates in contrast to being limited by blood lineage with incumbents.
Corruption can be perpetuated by dynasties!
Political dynasties also use their political dominance over their respective regions to enrich themselves, using methods such as graft and corruption, outright bribery, or exerting political influence. Political dynasties often hold significant economic power in a town, city, or province, and their interests are perpetually protected by dynastic politics. Dynasties also tend to favor the status quo, no matter how anti-people it is, just to stay in power.
PASS THE ANTI-POLITICAL DYNASTY BILL!