OVER the years, countless articles have been written about political dynasties that dominate the country’s political landscape. In Bohol, we have our own set of political dynasties, the wannabe dynasties, and the stakes are high that more families desire to perpetuate the status sans delicadeza and principled leadership. But let’s not get ahead of our story.
We are so driven to criticize these candidates, and yet we elect them, enabling them to entrench themselves in their little kingdoms. Ironic but true. We should stop castigating and start doing if we must end the recycling and further entry of more family members.
First, let’s define political dynasties.
According to the CPBRD Notes of the Congressional Policy and Budget Research Department (CPBRD) of our very own House of Representatives, Congress of the Philippines, dated November 2024, “A political dynasty can be described as a family with at least two of its members securing at least one elected position in at least two elections. The simultaneity condition (i.e., at least two of its members occupying at least two positions) accommodates conventional definitions of political dynasties as families that have multiple members simultaneously occupying multiple elected positions.”
The Notes explained however, that this condition “is insufficient as it does not account for the capacity of a political dynasty to perpetuate itself over time.” For example, a family could secure multiple seats in a single election but lose those seats in the succeeding election. Interesting question though, is this happening? Do they lose their political seats in succeeding elections?
Given that, let’s simplify. Two siblings in the senate (2 family members); two siblings together with either a sister-in-law or a brother-in-law in congress (3 family members); two siblings together with a son/a daughter in congress (3 family members); a mother and son in the senate (2 family members); a husband (in congress), wife, and daughter in local government (3 family members); a wife (in congress), father, and husband, in local government (3 family members), a wife in congress, husband, and niece in local government (3 family members); a wife/daughter with husband aspiring for congress, and father in local government (2 family members), and similar configurations that simultaneously occupy multiple elected positions.
In your own community whether in the city; town; first, second, or third districts of Bohol, you can begin identifying these candidates that belong to one family. It will be a good exercise.
Now, what does the 1987 Philippine Constitution say?
Section 21 of Article II: Declaration of Principles and State policies says: “The State shall guarantee equal access to opportunities for public service and prohibit political dynasties as may be defined by law.” Sadly, nearly forty years after the ratification of the 1987 Philippine Constitution, our congress representatives—which belong to political dynasties themselves—have not passed a law that prohibits political dynasties, until today—2025.
No surprise there. If you are a legislator in congress whose family occupies multiple elected positions, would you craft or support a bill that will prohibit your own family members from running in succeeding elections? Oh no, you won’t. Why not? Because defining political dynasties and setting limitations will disadvantage the very legislator or legislators who will craft or author the law themselves. The plain rationalization is: Why will I forbid my family members from seeking a political post? We have the resources, we have the spotlight, we have the fan base, we have the name recall, ad infinitum. Everything is in their favor.
So, if the candidates you voted form part of a political dynasty elected across multiple positions, do you really think the family member who sits in congress will support, more so, author an anti-dynasty bill? Nah. Why would I kill the chances of my spouse, child, grandchild, brother, sister, aunt, uncle, even parents? You don’t kill the chicken that lays the golden eggs.
Political actors and handlers have messed up the political system in Bohol with political patronage; hypocritical sloganeering; lapping up to the “ayuda” of zero-shame national politicians; feeding crumbs to the masa instead of empowering them; shameful outdoor advertising by becoming the tarpaulin kings and queens—like I said little kingdoms; shallow grasp of the principles of good governance—all lip service, photo documentation, and brandishing awards that do not even capture the actual situation of the government they are supposed to lead; selling us to the highest bidders; among others. I am sure you can add to the list.
Judgement call
The good news is Boholano voters have the power to decide. At the end of the day, the final authority rests in the Boholano constituents, the Boholano electorate, who must decide how we want to reshape the political landscape in Bohol. And this power to decide is bolstered by the petitions and other pleadings that ask the Supreme Court to compel Congress to pass an anti-dynasty law.
My fellow Boholanos, the future is in our hands, not in the hands of dynastic politicians.
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The writer hosts Woman Talk with Belinda Sales which will resume broadcast tomorrow, March 22, 2025, 10 a.m. at 91.1 Balita FM Tagbilaran City. Email at belindabelsales@gmail.com. X @ShilohRuthie./PN
