A decision of a member of the longest-ruling political clan in the country to give up politics set off
a strong move in the House of Representatives for the swift enactment of bills aimed at dismantling political dynasties.

Opposition and administration lawmakers joined Nueva Ecija Rep. Edno Joson in his bid to give life to the anti-political dynasty provision of the Constitution by passing an enabling law to make it effective.

Makati City Rep. Teodoro Locsin Jr., chairman of the Committee on Electoral Reforms, vowed to push for the two anti-dynasty measures pending before his committee.

Deputy Minority Leader Satur Ocampo, author of one of the two bills, admitted he is about to give up on his bill until Joson issued the statement.

Ocampo said that failure of Congress to pass an enabling law that would dismantle political dynasties should be presented as a 2010 election issue.

The other bill was authored by Majority Leader Arthur Defensor who refiled the measure after Congress ran out of time to pass it during the 13th Congress.

Defensor said the measure faces formidable opposition in Congress, apparently referring to members of influential political families in the country.

“I re-filed it without entertaining any illusion it will pass. But I have not given up hopes it can, “ the House official said.

In a news forum, Joson, a member of the most powerful political clan in Nueva Ecija, said he is “90 percent sure” he would give up politics in order to serve as an example to heads of other political clans in the country.

The veteran lawmaker challenged President Arroyo and former President Joseph Estrada to lead their respective families in the anti-dynasty effort. He said this could spark off genuine political reform in the country.

Both Arroyo and Estrada have reportedly set their sights at joining the 2010 national elections.

Mrs. Arroyo’s family of politicians include her sons, Rep. Juan Miguel Arroyo of Pampanga and Rep. Dato Arroyo of Camarines Sur. The president’s two in-laws, Reps. Ignacio Arroyo and Ma. Lourdes Arroyo, are members of the Lower House.

Ma. Lourdes’ husband, violinist John Lesaca, has also set his sights at joining local politics by running for councilor in Quezon City.

On the other hand, politicians among the Estrada family also include the former president’s two sons - Sen. Jinggoy Estrada and his half-brother, Mayor JV Ejercito of San Juan. His wife, former senator Loi Estrada finished a six-year term in the Senate while several relatives are lording over provincial politics in Laguna.

Joson confessed he is not optimistic that either the Lower House or the Senate will pass its own version of the bill.

“This is because the bill is against self-interest,” he pointed out.

Stressing that banning political dynasties would reform the political structure of the country and put an end to corruption, Joson urged members of his own family led by former governor Tomas Joson to give way to new leaders in the province which has earned the notoriety for its history of political violence.

Joson said incumbent Nueva Ecija Gov. Aurelio Umali is also guilty of building a political clan in the province despite his election vow to dismantle dynasties deeply rooted in Nueva Ecija politics.

Umali is married to Rep. Czarina Umali, incumbent congresswoman of the province’s third district.

“I challenge all political clans who are responsible to the proliferation of political dynasty problem not to run in next year’s scheduled elections,” Joson told reporters during the Usaping Balita News Forum in Quezon City.

Cebu Rep. Antonio Cuenco, chairman of the Committee on Foreign Affairs, shares Joson’s observation, saying that the bill should be supported but approval can be next to impossible.

Locsin explained that while he believes the transition law is more urgent than the anti-dynasty bill, yet he will set committee action on the measure.

“With anti-dynasty, the US would have no Adams, Roosevelt, Kennedy and Bush dynasties. The Nazis and the communists would divide the world between them,” Locsin pointed out.

“Without the Bushes, we would all be on our knees on small carpets facing Mecca or losing our heads. On the other hand, almost all our politicians, opposition and administration, would be walking around with stumps where their hands would be, kasi amputation is penalty of kurakot,” he added.

Both Locsin and Ocampo noted that Joson can be the exemption rather than the rule on dynasties.

They stressed that Joson has demonstrated integrity as a public official and is among the most effective fiscalizers in Congress.

“Iba si Congressman Joson, he is very independent and his courage is admirable. There are families that have contributed significantly to national progress but there are many political families na despotic,” Ocampo explained.

He said among the families that should no longer be allowed to rule in their respective territories are the Espinas of Biliran and the Romualdos of Camiguin.