Dynasty on their minds. Not dynamism. Political dynasty - Da Daily Donkey

Da Daily Donkey award goes to the

political dynasties in the Philippines

Just saw a post on political dynasties, which got me thinking about some of the country's top political clans. Some of the firsts that came to mind include:

• The Macapagals
• The Marcoses
• The Ejercitos/Estradas
• The Cojuangcos
• The Osmenas
  
• The Cayetanos

Ever since I can remember, political dynasties have plague the Philippine political landscape like a dreaded disease. And they are still very much around! It is a possibility that in the next Senate, the Filipinos will have a father and son tandem in the persons of Nene and Koko Pimentel. It kind of reminds you of the song-and-dance number by mother and son Loi and Jinggoy Estrada, who sat side by side during deliberations on important legislations that will influence the fate of millions of our kababayans (countrymen). What is ironic is the fact that Nene Pimental authored "The Anti-Dynasty Bill," which is currently pending in the Philippine Senate. Tsk.

From PCIJ.org:

• "There is at least one political family in almost every province. Nearly 80% of the members of the 13th Congress are from political families, according to a GMA Network News Research study. That the Anti-Dynasty Bill has been stuck in a rut for this long is most probably due to the fact that 166 district representatives — or 8 out of 10 — are not about to pass legislation that would go against their interest."

And from Halalan07:

• Of all the issues Koko Pimentel was asked to comment on in his podcast interview, there was one he dismissed as a “non-issue” —- political dynasty. According to him, the political dynasty provision in the 1987 Constitution is stated this way: “The State shall guarantee equal access to opportunities for public service, and prohibit political dynasties as may be defined by law.” Since there is no law defining what a political dynasty is and also no law prohibiting relatives of incumbent officials from running for public office, it is unfair to single him out, he said in a news release from his website dated January 25.
  
  So what is fair, Koko? It just so happens that it was your father, Nene Pimentel, who unsuccessfully sponsored the bill. AnitoKid
  
  

• “Since the second part of the provision is not yet effective, isn’t the first part applicable to me?” he said.
  
  A novel pro-active approach to political dynasties, if I ever saw one. Indeed, this is a new one. This kid is smart. But little does he know that we have stopped talking about the legal issues and moved on to the social aspects. Tsk. AnitoKid
  
  
  

• But if he was to get elected and an anti-dynasty bill was filed in the Senate, he said that he will propose to limit its effectivity to the presidency because it is the most powerful position in the entire government bureaucracy.
  
  Wait, didn't you just whined about being singled out? With your proposal, you will leave the others (that includes you, your family and everybody else) untouchable. Something is not right with your views. AnitoKid
  
  

• “What is the evil sought to be prevented by an anti-dynasty provision? It is the unfair advantage of the vast resources of a government office. And in the Office of the President, there are billions of pesos to be spent at the discretion of the president,” he explained.
  
  You forgot to mention the millions of resources allocated to Senators. AnitoKid
  
  

• Senator Nene Pimentel seems to agree. “I believe that the dynasty issue may not accurately depict the situation in our case,” he said in the news release. “In the ultimate analysis, it is the people who will determine and decide whether it is right for Koko to get elected to the Senate.”
  
  Yeah, we, the Filipino people, are always at the losing end whenever it comes to times like these. AnitoKid
  
  
  
  
• The senator may be right. But the people will also be left wondering if Koko will be saying the same thing when his own son, Aquilino Pimentel VI, runs for senator."

How can Filipinos expect credibility from members of the Philippine Senate to convince the rest of the nation that this bill, The Anti-Dynasty Bill, should be passed when they themselves are violating the practice of such. Ang gagaling ninyo! Jan kayo mahusay!

When one's seat is so sacred, so safe, that the "Honorable Official" is not concerned about perception, a number of things happen:

• one becomes too wedded to Malacañang;
• one loses touch with their constituency;
• and one loses touch with their real purpose.

Is corruption a family value? Is it a tradition?
These are my views. What are your thoughts?
What do you think, thinker?