Hail the dynasties

Published by the Visayan Daily Star Publications, Inc.

NINFA R. LEONARDIA Editor-in-Chief & President

CARLA P. GOMEZ Editor CHERYL CRUZ Busines Editor NIDA A. BUENAFE Sports Editor RENE GENOVE Bureau Chief, Dumaguete MAJA P. DELY Advertising Coordinator

CARLOS ANTONIO L. LEONARDIA Administrative Officer

The 1987 Constitution provided for an end to political dynasties but although a bill for this purpose is filed every year Congress never got to enact a law to implement this constitutional mandate. The idea is hostile to the interest of those who sit in the legislature and in Malacañang as it will prevent one family from dominating the country's politics and governance. The usual reason for this failure to enact a law to stop family dynasties is lack of time.

There is plenty of time, or common sense tells us, that when there is a desire people will make time. It is clear that the politicians of this country placed this provision in the Constitution without any desire to pass a law to implement it.

The list of names of candidates who had filed for next year's election show that political dynasties have grown rather than declined. It was unthinkable prior to martial law that spouses succeed each other or sons and daughters succeed their fathers and mothers. In rare cases relatives come one after the other.

The usual justification is that people vote for these families so that the accusation that a dynasty exists is untenable. The truth is that these families or clans leave people without a choice.

In an unabashed statement Senate President Franklin Drilon pushed for the election of Liberal Party candidate Mar Roxas because there is no Roxas dynasty. He implies that Roxas, being without issue, will have nobody in his family to succeed him and therefore Roxas would be inclined to pass an anti-dynasty law.

The same can be said of President Benigno Aquino who has no children but did not move to pass an anti-dynasty law or use his influence for Congress to pass such legislation.

The world is watching a clash of families or clans rather than of political ideas and programs of government. The system of selection of candidates is dictated by political moguls, levels of popularity and financiers rather than their political principles, platforms of government and competence to implement a program for the common welfare.

The number of candidates for president alone mocks the electoral process and makes the Philippines a laughing stock of democratic societies.

Until such time that political parties and politicians mature, we will continue to have a national circus every three years. *