No time runs against families?: Gains and losses in regulating political dynasties in the Philippines
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Abstract
(Extract)
Families dominate Philippine Politics. They occupy governmental posts and have a direct hand in legislation. The pioneering volume of Alfred McCoy’s book published in 1994 entitled Anarchy of Families reveals another side of the story:
"From provincial warlords to modern managers, prominent Philippine leaders have fused family, politics, and business to subvert public institutions and amass private wealth—an historic pattern that continues to the present day. Elite Filipino families have acted as formidable coalitions – controlling capital, dominating national politics, and deploying paramilitary force (1).
This paper reflects on the following questions – what hinders legislation to set in motion the constitutional provision against political dynasties? And if any, what impact does this impasse have on electoral reform in the country? To answer these questions, Article II Section 26 of the 1987 Constitution is revisited to highlight the importance of ensuring equal access to public service. Thereafter, a review of previous bills which have attempted to define political dynasties is provided. Gains and losses of pushing for equitable access to public service are analyzed bearing in mind recent landmark provisions in the Sangguniang Kabataan Reform Law and the institutionalization of the Bangsamoro Local Government Code.
Description
In this chapter, Gacayan reviews previous bills that have attempted to define political dynasties passed from the 13th to the 18th Congress of the Philippines, and notes that from at least forty-five (45) bills passed in the last seventeen (17) years, not one have passed third reading. Moreso, majority of these bills are left pending in appropriate committees where they were assigned to.
Gacayan argues that while there is sustained interest on the part of the House of Representatives and the Senate to fulfill their constitutional mandate to define and prohibit political dynasties, there is strong indication that both houses are seemingly adamant and tentative in their legislative position to pass the bill into law. Gacayan illustrates that the victory of the Marcos-Duterte tandem in the recent polls is an epitome of the continuing dominance of political dynasties – where dynasties are not only deeply entrenched but also capable of self-perpetuation admist good goverance reforms.
He echoes what other political scientists claim that political dynasties themselves are not only electoral concerns but are wicked problems that has undermined the quality of democracy linked to deeper poverry and underdevelopment. Gacayan concludes that while it seems that no time runs against families in the last thiry-five (35) years, there is a silver lining if one is able to look at the progress made in progressive legislation, judicial activism, and by further educating the electorate.
