By Patrick Tulfo
IS THE ANTI – POLITICAL DYNASTY BILL THE SOLUTION TO THE COUNTRY’S PROBLEMS?
THE Anti-Political Dynasty bill, being pushed by the Makabayan bloc led by Cong. Chel Diokno, is currently a hot topic in the House of Representatives. This proposed legislation is not new, it has been discussed in Congress several times in the past, but nothing has happened because it is being stalled by some lawmakers themselves, who would be affected by it.
The Commission on Elections (Comelec) has expressed its support in the new call for reviving this bill. But did you know that there is already a provision in the Constitution regarding political dynasties? So why hasn’t it been implemented.
According to Atty. Rex Laudiangco, Spokesman of the election body, there are no specific provisions or guidelines for this, which is why the agency supports reviving the proposed law.
In a recent interview with Atty. Laudiangco, on my radio program aired over at DZME 1530khz, I asked whether this bill would infringe on the right of a qualified candidate to run for office just because they happened to have a relative or relatives who were already elected?
The concept of the bill itself is broad in definition. For example, what kind of dynasty is being referred to? Is it the prohibition of relatives running simultaneously for different positions during elections, or is it about succession, where a relative replaces an incumbent?
In the same interview, I pointed out to Atty. Laundiangco that the country’s problems do not only stem from political dynasties. Rather, it is our system of electing candidates that is reason many unqualified and abusive officials are elected to office, for many are elected due to money and influence and not just those who are already in power.
Many qualified candidates were rejected by Comelec just because they lack funds or machinery to conduct a campaign.
In truth, what Comelec should focus on during electoral campaigns are those who pay their way to win and those who violate campaign rules set by the agency.
Because in the end electing a public official in place falls directly into the hands of the electorate themselves.