The curse called “Political Dynasty”

“It is necessary (the Kabataang Barangay) be led by the president’s daughter?

Archimedes Trajano (1955-1977), a 21-year-old student from Mapua, asked this question in front of Imee Marcos, president of Kabataang Barangay (1975-1986), after the latter addressed a crowd at a university in Manila.

This bold question, which cost him his life at the hands of Imee’s security escorts, spoke loud and clear about the unfitness of a family to hold various positions in government, whether as a political dynasty or of nepotism.

There is something wrong and morally detestable in political dynasties contrary to what has been asserted.

While there is nothing inherently wrong with sons following their fathers professionally, this is the case when they are forced or encouraged to join politics to maintain their evil rise. .

It is lamentable that by encouraging their sons or daughters to become politicians like themselves, they are depriving them of the good opportunity to become professionals in other businesses where their talents are above average.

What the Philippines needs are more writers and authors, more engineers, more scientists, more entrepreneurs and technicians, and fewer and fewer dastardly politicians.

” Them again ? »

I reserve my greatest contempt for those wives or sons who follow their politician-husbands or politician-fathers.

Whether they were good families with outstanding public service or not, whether they were qualified or not, their motives for running for public office were always suspect and they knew that the educated people in their constituency lamented them in private.

“Sikara Lamet?” (Them again ?) “Ag ira kuntento? (Aren’t they satisfied?)” “Masiba will go. (Their greed knows no boundaries.)

And so on.

But the political heir, in addition to willfully ignoring the constitutional ban or being downright ignorant – supported by equally naive or indulgent supporters who are aware that this is tolerable in light of what is really going on in the community and throughout the country – will always show up, thick-faced, and ensure their victory.

But not without resorting to threat from the other side, vote buying and all the nefarious practices common in Philippine elections since the Tejeros Convention of 1897.

Lust for power

After the war, elections at the national level meant opposing dynastic politicians but not as severe as today.

It started in 1946 with Vicente Y. Sotto as senator whose brother Filemon Y. Sotto was once a senator in the pre-war Senate.

This was followed by presidential brother, wife, or son elections to the Senate in the 1961 Senate elections of Genaro F. Magsaysay, brother of President Ramon F. Magsaysay and Gaudencio Antonino who was succeeded by his wife, Magnolia W Antonino, upon his death before the 1967 elections, and in 1965 of Sergio Osmeña Jr., son of President Sergio Osmeña Sr., of Gerardo Roxas, son of President Manuel A. Roxas, and of Benigno S. Aquino Jr., son of former Senator and wartime Speaker of the National Assembly Benigno Q. Aquino Sr.

At the provincial level from 1946 to 1963, in a careful study by Dante Simbulan, the dominant families assumed positions in the executive, legislative and judicial branches.

Each of these families had vital interests in business, land and professions.

Then came the worst period.

Martial law showed that the lust for power transcended the bounds of decency when the late dictator, Ferdinand E. Marcos, appointed his wife, Imelda R. Marcos, Governor of Metro Manila (1975-1986), Minister of Human Settlements (1978-1986), Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary (1978-1986); while Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. was elected vice-governor (1980-1983) and later governor (1983-1986) of Ilocos Norte.

“The Marcos dynasty“, the title of a book by Sterling Seagrave, documents the rise to power of the “marital dictatorship” as the still missing Primitivo Mijares rightly characterized their collusion with the White House, the Pentagon, the CIA and the American business and crime syndicates.

Until we come to this current mess.

Anti-Dynasty Policy Bill

In any case, how can the outgoing president certify the urgency of the political anti-dynasty bill which should have been passed a long time ago under the presidency of his mother when he himself belongs to a political clan? traditional in Tarlac?

How can he do this when his uncle, Agapito Aquino, started this trend in national elected positions in 1987 after the EDSA – a time when his mother was in power – and followed by his cousin, Bam Aquino, when he is in power?

Dynasty politics is the curse of this nation and a smart president whose interest is the nation, not the 2016 election, will fully support the passage of the bill using all his resources to destroy the hold once and for all elite in the Philippines. democracy.

But does an emasculated bill that will allow two members of a family to simultaneously hold office address the need to totally dismantle political dynasties?

Absolutely interested, he will further strengthen these families.

Although a scenario in which Congress is planted with a time bomb or held hostage by armed patriots who are fed up with this corrupt system and demand passage of this bill – including the Liberty Act of information – is highly unlikely, it is only through this desperate situation that they will be forced to comply with their constitutional mandate.

They’ve been procrastinating for so long. Their pockets and bank accounts had amassed stolen wealth.

Will these members of Congress wait for this to happen before they act?

Remember Archie, who in his raw youth spoke truth to power. – Rappler.com

Erwin S. Fernandez is an independent political analyst based in Pangasinan with his own research center, the Abung na Panagbasay Pangasinan (House of Pangasinian Studies).

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