Two anti-dynasty measures filed in House teeming with political dynasty members
By Rica Arevalo
Published Jul 27, 2019 06:30 pm
By Ben Rosario
Two administration solons filed separate anti-political dynasty bills in the House of Representatives that is currently teeming with congressmen belonging to political families in their respective congressional districts.
(MANILA BULLETIN FILE PHOTO)
The fact that there are currently 50 congressmen who are close relatives did not stop Reps. Lawrence Lemuel H. Fortun (PDP-Laban, Agusan del Norte ) and Rodante Marcoleta (1SAGIP Partylist) from pursuing their respective anti-dynasty bills.
Fortun and Marcoleta filed House Bills 110 and 145, respectively, days before the 300 members of the Lower House decided to elect Taguig-Pateros Rep. Alan Peter Cayetano and Leyte Rep. Martin Romualdez as speaker and majority leader, respectively.
The roster of the Lower House also showed that at least 50 members belong to one family or are relatives either by affinity or by blood.
Both are married to incumbent House members. Cayetano to Taguig Rep. Lani Cayetano and Romualdez to Rep. Yedda Marie Romualdez.
Other legally married couples among House members are: Reps. Horacio Suansing Jr. (Sultan Kudarat) and Estrellita Suansing (Nueva Ecija); David Suarez (Quezon) and Anna Marie Villaraza-Suarez (Alona Partylist); Ma. Angelica Amante-Matba (Agusan del Norte) and Rashidin Matba (Tawi-tawi); and Florencio Noel (An Waray) and ‘Josephine Veronique Lacson-Noel (Navotas).
Close relatives are Reps. Rodolfo Albano (LPGMA) and son, Antonio Albano (Isabela); Abdullah Dimaporo (Lanao del Norte) and son, Khalid Dimaporo (Lanao del Norte); Elisa Kho (Masbate) and Wilton Kho (Masbate); siblings, Ma. Victorial Umali (Ateacher) and Alfonso V. Umali Jr. (Mindoro Oriental) and Alberto bobby Pacquiao (OFW Family); Rudy Caesar G. Fariñas I (Probinsyano Ako) and Ria Christina G. Fariñas (Ilocos Norte); and Rogelio Pacquiao (Saranggani) and cousins Faustino Michael Carlos Dy III and Ian Paul Dy of Isabela; and Jericho Nograles (PBA Partylist) and Fidel Nograles (Rizal).
Pampanga Rep. Mikee Arroyo serves as a congressman with aunt, Ma. Lourdes Arroyo of Negros Occidental.
Iloilo Rep. Janette Garin is the sister-in-law of AAMBIS-OWA partylist Rep. Sharon Garin while second term Manila Rep. Manny Lopez is the brother-in-law of neophyte Rep. Allan Reyes of Quezon City.
The bills filed by Fortun and Marcoleta propose to provide the legislative affirmation of Article II, Section 26 of the Constitution that states that: “The State shall guarantee equal access to public service and prohibit dynasty as defined by law.”
Giving others a chance
Citing a study conducted by the Asian Institute of Management Policy Center in 2009, Fortun said political dynasties are pervasive in ten poorest provinces that are “afflicted by low levels of human development, bad governance, violence, and poor business climates.”
“Dynasties have also been observed to weaken the checks and balances in government as well as the competition in the political system resulting in less access to for alternative leaders and youth leaders to be part of the political system,” he said.
Marcoleta refiled House Bill 3587 which was originally authored by his partylist colleague, former Rep. Erlinda Santiago.
HB 3587 is the only anti-dynasty bill since the ratification of the 1987 Constitution that went past committee level.
During the 16th Congress, the House Committee on Electoral Reforms, then chaired by Capiz Rep. Fredenil Castro, approved HB 3587 and submitted the measure for plenary approval.
However, leaders of the 16th Congress put HB 3587 in the legislative backburner, never to be mentioned again in the plenary hall supposedly for second and final reading approval.
Marcoleta lamented the continued dominance of families in the country’s political system.
“Our political fabric is embroidered with clans or families who had dominated or continue to reign, succeeding one after the other, in both local and national political scene,” Marcoleta stated.
He said political dynasties should end in the country and has denied other members of the community to prove their competence and worthiness in serving the country.
“It is, therefore, necessary that a bill be passed to carry out the Constitutional mandate against political dynasty and in order to guarantee equal access to public service,” Marcoleta stated.
(MANILA BULLETIN FILE PHOTO)
The fact that there are currently 50 congressmen who are close relatives did not stop Reps. Lawrence Lemuel H. Fortun (PDP-Laban, Agusan del Norte ) and Rodante Marcoleta (1SAGIP Partylist) from pursuing their respective anti-dynasty bills.
Fortun and Marcoleta filed House Bills 110 and 145, respectively, days before the 300 members of the Lower House decided to elect Taguig-Pateros Rep. Alan Peter Cayetano and Leyte Rep. Martin Romualdez as speaker and majority leader, respectively.
The roster of the Lower House also showed that at least 50 members belong to one family or are relatives either by affinity or by blood.
Both are married to incumbent House members. Cayetano to Taguig Rep. Lani Cayetano and Romualdez to Rep. Yedda Marie Romualdez.
Other legally married couples among House members are: Reps. Horacio Suansing Jr. (Sultan Kudarat) and Estrellita Suansing (Nueva Ecija); David Suarez (Quezon) and Anna Marie Villaraza-Suarez (Alona Partylist); Ma. Angelica Amante-Matba (Agusan del Norte) and Rashidin Matba (Tawi-tawi); and Florencio Noel (An Waray) and ‘Josephine Veronique Lacson-Noel (Navotas).
Close relatives are Reps. Rodolfo Albano (LPGMA) and son, Antonio Albano (Isabela); Abdullah Dimaporo (Lanao del Norte) and son, Khalid Dimaporo (Lanao del Norte); Elisa Kho (Masbate) and Wilton Kho (Masbate); siblings, Ma. Victorial Umali (Ateacher) and Alfonso V. Umali Jr. (Mindoro Oriental) and Alberto bobby Pacquiao (OFW Family); Rudy Caesar G. Fariñas I (Probinsyano Ako) and Ria Christina G. Fariñas (Ilocos Norte); and Rogelio Pacquiao (Saranggani) and cousins Faustino Michael Carlos Dy III and Ian Paul Dy of Isabela; and Jericho Nograles (PBA Partylist) and Fidel Nograles (Rizal).
Pampanga Rep. Mikee Arroyo serves as a congressman with aunt, Ma. Lourdes Arroyo of Negros Occidental.
Iloilo Rep. Janette Garin is the sister-in-law of AAMBIS-OWA partylist Rep. Sharon Garin while second term Manila Rep. Manny Lopez is the brother-in-law of neophyte Rep. Allan Reyes of Quezon City.
The bills filed by Fortun and Marcoleta propose to provide the legislative affirmation of Article II, Section 26 of the Constitution that states that: “The State shall guarantee equal access to public service and prohibit dynasty as defined by law.”
Giving others a chance
Citing a study conducted by the Asian Institute of Management Policy Center in 2009, Fortun said political dynasties are pervasive in ten poorest provinces that are “afflicted by low levels of human development, bad governance, violence, and poor business climates.”
“Dynasties have also been observed to weaken the checks and balances in government as well as the competition in the political system resulting in less access to for alternative leaders and youth leaders to be part of the political system,” he said.
Marcoleta refiled House Bill 3587 which was originally authored by his partylist colleague, former Rep. Erlinda Santiago.
HB 3587 is the only anti-dynasty bill since the ratification of the 1987 Constitution that went past committee level.
During the 16th Congress, the House Committee on Electoral Reforms, then chaired by Capiz Rep. Fredenil Castro, approved HB 3587 and submitted the measure for plenary approval.
However, leaders of the 16th Congress put HB 3587 in the legislative backburner, never to be mentioned again in the plenary hall supposedly for second and final reading approval.
Marcoleta lamented the continued dominance of families in the country’s political system.
“Our political fabric is embroidered with clans or families who had dominated or continue to reign, succeeding one after the other, in both local and national political scene,” Marcoleta stated.
He said political dynasties should end in the country and has denied other members of the community to prove their competence and worthiness in serving the country.
“It is, therefore, necessary that a bill be passed to carry out the Constitutional mandate against political dynasty and in order to guarantee equal access to public service,” Marcoleta stated.