BY GLENDA SOLOGASTOA
ILOILO – Cong. Richard Garin of the 1st District said he is supportive of the Anti-Dynasty Bill. But he has some concerns over it.
In politics, what does “political dynasty” mean, asked Garin, whose wife he succeeded in Congress in 2013.
He believes the term as generally accepted is not correct.
“In politics, there is no dynasty but only democracy,” he said.
There is no rule of succession in politics since politicians assume positions through election, explained Garin, son of Sangguniang Panlalawigan member Ninfa Garin and former congressman Oscar Garin.
The politicians’ fate rests on the voting public who must be free to choose their leaders, he added.
Cong. Garin, whose sister Sharon is a party-list representative of AAMBIS-Owa and another sister, Kristine, is the mayor of Guimbal town, said the Anti-Dynasty Bill may also infringe on the right of the person, specifically the right of suffrage.
“Filipinos have the right to vote, the right to run for public office, and the right to be voted upon,” Garin stressed.
He sees passionate debate on the Anti-Dynasty Bill when Congress resumes session in July. It is up for first reading.
The Anti-Dynasty Bill introduced in the Lower House allows a family at most two members only – up to the second degree of consanguinity – to run for public office in a given election.
Reached for his comment, Assistant Secretary for the Office of Presidential Adviser on Political Affairs Atty. Ernesto Ramel Jr. said Malacañang has no stand on the issue. He graced the San Enrique town fiesta recently.
Like Garin, Ramel also believes that it is still the people who decide on their leaders, with or without the law. /PN
