Dr. Hylie Jane M. HungDe La Salle University, (B.S. Legal
Management and Political Science)University of California-
Berkeley, (Masters degree in Public Administration and PhD in
Research and Behavior in Politics )Consultant, Senate of the
PhilippinesFormer President, National Defense College of the
[email protected]
I . Introduction
A. Political dynasty is a social cancer.As we all know, cancer
is caused by a few bad cells that kept on multiplying until they
become the dominant cells in ones body.So how do we justify that
political dynasty is indeed a social cancer? According to the 2014
study of Julio Teehankee, college dean at De La Salle University in
Manila, there are 178 families that controls our political system.
In addition to that, according to the 2014 study of Ronald Mendoza,
director of the Asian Institute of Managements Policy Center, 75
percent of the members of Congress and around 80 percent of the
governors and mayors belong to political dynasties.
B. Political dynasty is all about gaining power within the
government.Can you imagine the possible state of a city or country
when you are ruled over by a corrupt officials that belongs to a
political dynasty? According to the study of Mendoza, poverty is
highest in areas controlled by political dynasties. They are
obstacles to the development of this country for the public funds
and other resources intended for the development is too often
stolen by these public officials. Although there are few
exceptions, these are not enough to convince the Filipinos that
political dynasties are entirely beneficial.
C. This discussion aims to specify the causes and effects of
political dynasty in the Philippine government.A great scenario to
portray the evil of this pratice is to imagine a congress full of
political dynasties. They will have the power to determine what
laws to pass. They would not pass a law that are against their
interests. Also, having strong connections within the government
gives them a strong chance of gaining power and influence that
would eventually have the means of controlling the decisions in
favor of them. After all, here in the Philippines having the right
connections is more important than abiding to the rules of society
based on the reality of the political system on todays time.
II. Reasons why political dynasty is prevalent in the
Philippines.
A. Committing graft and corruption within the government.The
presence of political dynasty in the system promotes graft and
corruption, because family members often overlook the mistakes of
their relatives, which promotes nepotism, meaning the powerful and
influential people has the habit of favoring their families or
friends by giving them a position even though they do not meet the
required qualifications. Political dynasty promotes graft and
corruption because when a family rule over a certain area, it gives
them confidence that no one will be able to reprimand their wrong
doing.
B. Gaining influential power that would be beneficial to their
part.
III. Cases of political dynasty both in the local and national
governments.
A. Prevalent families in the local government.1. Villar (Las
Pinas)2. Binay (Makati) 3. Ejercito (San Juan)4. Gatchalian
(Valenzuela)5. Etc.
B. Prevalent families in the national government.1. Aquino2.
Arroyo3. Marcos4. Cayetano5. Etc.
A recent case has emerged concerning the Binays in which Vice
President Jejomar Binay is being accused of plunder and is being
investigated by the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee that includes her
two daughters, namely Abigail Binay and Nancy Binay. Do you
honestly believe that the investigation will have no anomalies or
baises on the side of their own father?
IV. Impacts of political dynasty to the Philippine
government.
A. Reduces the equal opportunities during election.It was stated
in Article II, Section 26 of the Constitution states that [t]he
State shall guarantee equal access to opportunities for public
service, and prohibit political dynasties as may be defined by law.
By not defining what political dynasty is, it hinders aspiring
politicians to hold positions .
An example of this would be the Zubiris clan. During 1998 in
Bukidnon province, Jose Zubiri Jr. faced a term limit as a
congressman. His son, Juan Zubiri, replaced him and Jose Zubiri Jr
became the governor in 2001. When Jose, the congressman, reached
its term limit in 2007, his younger brother, Jose Zubiri III,
replaced him and Jose moved up to the senate. In 2010, Jose Zubiri
Sr. again faced term limit and there was no one to replace him in
the position, thus he just ran for a lower position, which is vice
governor, to secure his place in the government.
B. Political Dynasty is a threat to democracy.Political Dynasty
is a threat to our democracy for the simple reason that our
government has a big possibility of becoming oligarchic. Democracy
was meant for the political power to be dispersed to various
qualified people and not to be concentrated on one family name that
risks the democratic status of the Philippines by having the power
to influence and dictate our political system.V. ConclusionIt has
been long since the implementation of the 1987 Constitution. It is
time to finally define the term Political Dynasty to ensure the
fairness among the candidates during elections and this is also a
way to safeguard the democratic status of our country from
political families that uses their positions to unlawfully gain
from the Filipino people.
References: ALL IN THE FAMILY | Dynasties tighten grip on
Philippines - InterAksyon.com. (n.d.). Retrieved from
http://www.interaksyon.com/article/61428/all-in-the-family--dynasties-tighten-grip-on-philippinesLacson,A.
(n.d.). The few who control our country. Retrieved from
opinion.inquirer.net/80808/the-few-who-control-our-countryRozul,R.
(n.d.). The Causes and Impacts of the Political Dynasties in the
Political Sphere of the Philippines. Retrieved from
http://www.academia.edu/9600685/The_Causes_and_Impacts_of_the_Political_Dynasties_in_the_Political_Sphere_of_the_Philippines
