Tag Archives: COMELEC

Rethinking Political Dynasties

Rationale for the Rethinking Process

Why do we need to rethink political dynasties? Is it not common knowledge now that traditional political families are the most despised feature of Philippine politics? Was not this sentiment passionately manifested in the Anti-Epal campaign that bombarded social media in the months preceding the last elections? In fact, was not the result of the May 2013 elections an unequivocal illustration of the Filipinos’ revolt against family dynasties in public office?

I remember appearing before the Commission on Elections (COMELEC) during the chairmanship of a political family patriarch (Benjamin Abalos). I was advocating for a client who was publicly indicated in campaign attacks as “guilty” of being in a political dynasty. Our contention was that since there was no provision under current election laws, which criminalize the existence of political dynasties, campaign materials pronouncing guilt as if there was such a proscription constitutes undue harassment on its target candidate. it was a novel argument but sadly the petition was eventually mooted for as the general public now knows, in the 2007 elections Senator Koko Pimentel had to face off with a more sinister election adversary.

I am relating this personal experience simply to demonstrate that there is something objectively disagreeable with politicians who are part of political dynasties running (and competing) for public office. Pertinently, the Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism (PCIJ) blog cited here reported that candidates belonging to 10 of the 20 well-entrenched political families lost their grip on power in the last elections. Sadly, this result seems terribly insignificant in the light of the overall political landscape of the nation as illustrated by the current composition of the Senate with siblings and scions making up this formerly august body. In fact, the reality after the election dust settled last May 2013 still shows that “at least 55 political families will have each controlled an elective post for 20 to 40 years straight.” Political clans are still a prominent feature of modern Philippine politics. Political clans are still a prominent feature of modern Philippine politics. Political power is still concentrated on a select segment of the polity that is relatively unchanged. The family names may have changed, but the quality of those who wield the power has not.

Our Right to Vote: A Century After

A cornerstone principle and bedrock of our 1987 Constitution is that the Philippines is a republican and democratic state. One of the hallmarks of democracy is the people’s right to vote. With the rising temperature of the election fever during these cold February days, allow me to speak on this crucial topic, even though it may have lost its appeal to many who now view elections as merely a chimerical episode of democracy amidst the political realities in our country.

In ancient times, the great thinkers did not easily subscribe to democracy. Dismissing it as a riotous rule by the masses, Plato disapproved of democracy. He cautioned that if all the people would rule, those of low quality would dominate the state by mere superiority in numbers. He expressed the fear that the more numerous masses would govern with meaness and usher the “tyranny of the majority.” Plato predicted that democracies would be short-lived, as the mob would inevitably surrender its power to a single tyrant and put an end to popular government.

Plato’s prophecy did not come to pass. Democracy meandered through the Middle Ages in Europe, which elevated the importance of the equality of all men and sparked a revival of interest in democracy. It migrated to the United States of America, whose Founding Fathers espoused its liberal ideas.