MANILA, Philippines – Para kay Akbayan Party-list Rep. Chel Diokno, kailangan pang palakasin ang bersyon ng Anti-Political Dynasty Bill sa Kamara upang tuluyan nitong matuldukan ang political dynasty sa bansa.
“The Constitution commands Congress to enact an anti-political dynasty law—a law that will put an end to political dynasties, but House Bill No. 8389 is falling short of its intended purpose,” paliwanag ni Diokno.
Nababahala si Diokno na ang kasalukuyang anti-political dynasty measure na pinagdedebatihan sa Kamara ay hindi mareresolba ang usapin at patuloy pa ring magmamayagpag ang impluwensya ng mga political families.
Kumpara sa bersyon ng Senado na magpapatupad ng ban sa political dynasties hanggang second civil degree of consanguinity or affinity—sakop nito ang magulang, anak, grandparents, grandchildren, kapatid, at asawa—sinabi ni Diokno na sa bersyon ng Kamara ay mapapayagan pa rin ang magkakasabay na manungkulan ang mga pamilya sa iba’t ibang elective positions.
Sa bersyon din ng Senado, papayagan lamang na magkasabay na manungkulan ang isang magkapamilya sa isang national at isang local position na wala naman sa bersyon ng Kamara.
“The House version allows a political family to simultaneously hold elective positions across several levels of government. If one family can occupy simultaneously the positions of President, several Congressional seats, Governor, Vice-Governor, Mayor, and Councilor, power will still be concentrated in the hands of a few for the benefit of their family,” paliwanag ni Diokno.
Ang political dynasty bill ay patuloy na pinagdedebatihan sa House plenary.
Bilang depensa sa House Bill No. 8389, sinabi ni House Committee on Suffrage and Electoral Reforms Chairman at Lanao del Sur Rep. Zia Alonto Adiong na malinaw ang nakasaad sa Konstitusyon na magkaroon ng equal access sa public office at ipagbawal ang political dynasties.
“Our Constitution is unequivocal in its guidance. Under the 1987 Philippine Constitution, Article II, Section 26 states that the State shall guarantee equal access to opportunities for public service and prohibit political dynasties as may be defined by law,” paliwanag ni Adiong.
Aniya, may tungkulin ang Kongreso na liwanagin ang sakop ng political dynasties, subalit ang tungkuling ito ay dapat pasok din sa kung ano ang sakop ng constitutional rights.
“Our task is not simply to write the most restrictive definition possible. Our responsibility is to craft a definition that is constitutional, workable, and capable of withstanding scrutiny here in plenary session and in the courts,” depensa ni Adiong.
Ipinagtanggol ni Adiong na ang House Bill No. 8389 ay binalangkas na balanse sa pagitan ng reform at democratic principles. Aniya, ang nabuong bersyon ng Kamara sa anti-political dynasty bill ay produkto ng isinagawang mga committee hearing at public consultation. Gail Mendoza
