Birthright

The Commission on Election has set this June 2 the special election for the replacement of the late Ignacio Arroyo. Though it is too close to the 2013 elections the Congress thought it necessary to conduct an election since there is more than one year period before the regular elections.

The race has already begun but we do not know yet who will file their certificates of candidacy but, as of the moment, the field is already crowded with those jockeying for the top position practically claiming they have the birthright to succeed.

Leading this claim to dynastic succession is the late congressman’s sister, Maria Lourdes Arroyo Lesaca. Her candidacy is anchored on her being the younger sister. Nobody has raised the question about her qualifications or her plans for the district.

She claims ascendancy on this blood relationship as if the district is merely a turf owned by the family, like an hacienda that the surviving family members can claim by right of possession. That she has yet to be chosen in a free election is not mentioned at all. What is being pushed into the minds of the people of the 5th district is that she has the priority to succeed as a sister.

In fact her qualification to run is seriously questionable. A one-year, voter residence is required by law but while she voted there in 2004 when her brother ran she transferred to other places to vote in the last two successive elections, meaning her registration in the district no longer exists. She might be a resident there but an absentee and a voter-resident elsewhere.

She knows that, the reason she is transferring, but while a resident legally, she is a new voter resident. Not all residents are voters thus she cannot comply with the residency requirements. If she registers now then she can ran in 2013 which probably is her real intention.

Let us not ignore this circumstance because it seems that people are forgetting that she is not qualified but are pushing her anyway as if it is her birthright to take over. Congressional representation is not hereditary.  She can vie for it but according to law and the people’s consent.

Even if she has the requirement I find it unfair that she is using this seat for her political meanderings as if she is playing with her toys on the basis of her perceived birthright or that of her family to lead. She was here and then there, like the Menderes River of ancient time just so to be inside Congress and thus exercise power.

Was she here sharing with our people that now she has the temerity to claim to represent our interests? They were never heard of serving that district until Gloria Arroyo came to power and Ignacio Arroyo jumped into the front pages and prime broadcast time when he revealed he is Jose Pidal, who claimed to own the hundreds of millions of pesos that Congress charged to have been acquired from illegal activities.

This case remains open; its closure awaits but if the long arm of the law finally catches up and the Arroyos are found culpable, will Maria Lourdes Arroyo claim this as her birthright as well?

The other contenders are all here, working among the people so that they have the greater right and should reap the honor and the reward of a grateful people. Fifth District Board Members Melvin Ibañez and Dino Yulo had been serving their district well since their election and we have nothing to complain about, only praise for their unblemished records.

Binalbagan Mayor Alejandro “Bebot” Mirasol is serving Binalbagan well – his constituencies have no complaint either. His family had been here long before the Arroyos from Iloilo purchased lands in the district. So were the families of the Yulos to which Bebot also belongs.

 Enrique “Quito” Montilla continued to stick to the 5th district despite his landholdings in Mindanao. His family has been in the political arena long before the Americans set foot in this island.

If we measure the candidates for the 5th district on the basis of a birthright, Bebot, Dino and Quito can claim that and are still serving. Ibañez is related by blood and civil relations to the original 19th century families of the district though not landed as the others. Ibañez is a product of dogged effort to be better in the face of difficulties.

None of them are blue-blooded but of the people’s choice. Arroyo’s only claim is her brother being congressman who flooded the district with election money and used the power of the presidential office to further his political ambition.

Anyone of them - Melvin, Bebot, Dino and Quito, not necessarily in the order of my preference, can serve the district well by the people’s mandate, not claim to right by birth.* 

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