The Romualdez, Roxas, & Aquino political Drama in Haiyan’s aftermath

The bickering, blaming game, and the crying drama have been dominating my Facebook wall and it can really get tiring or even annoying. What makes it even obnoxiously annoying is how this squabble is starting to create a wedge or was it a simulated wedge that what I am seeing are just paid hacks influencing the gullible social media people?

Fish tale straight from the fishes mouth.

It’s a damn if you do and damn if you don’t situation, thanks and no thanks to the paid hacks muddling the issue. Not that the national government was remiss in early warning. As a matter of fact the president no less went on prime time national TV to announce the dangers of the impending super typhoon Yolanda/Haiyan. How exactly did some people react if I may ask? They ridiculed the president and even got upset because their prime time idiot box show was interrupted by the president who they believe just wants his face splattered on national TV. They can't believe the president they keep calling abnoy is wasting their time on some typhoons that is a normal occurrence of hitting the country 20 times a year anyway. Or so they thought not realizing this one packs a wallop so powerful that it has becomes the strongest that ever made landfall.

Sadly ignorance can kill and in the hands of the disgraced now resurrected political family dynasty it can kill not just one or two human beings but thousands that could have been prevented with just a few keystroke on the computer. How hard or how difficult is it for the mayor of Tacloban to go search the web what is a storm surge? Don’t tell me they don’t have the luxury of time because in 22 seconds google came out with 55,100,000 results and they could have grasped the enormity of the grave dangers to start evacuating the people to safer grounds. If the people of Tacloban see their mayor ignorantly thinking that he can sit out Yolanda/Haiyan's wrath how exactly will the people react especially when no one told them that a storm surge is one of the major causes of death in a super typhoon?

Instead of overseeing and monitoring the emergency situation he decided to just order his chief of staff to stay at city hall to monitor what is happening while he sits it out in comfort by his beach front mansion rendered useless as he clings for dear life by the roof. Imagine the stupidity! Knowing his mansion is right smack the path of a super typhoon and he opted to sit it out is like a script out of the Dumb and Dumber movie, LOL.

So far Mayor Alfred Romualdez has successfully deflected the issue on his accountability and responsibility on the thousands of death that could have been avoided. By playing a blaming game complete with crying drama that gives tear jerker soap opera a run for their money. Romualdez story telling a lie is just like a tele-novela that gets improvised as the series unfolds as if concocted by writers for audiences to demand for more drama or was it? I am not a fan of Roxas but I can surely understand where he is coming from being a victim of outright lie myself concocted by a guy but worse than a fishwife gossip monger that's so fantastic to even be believable, hehehe.

Politicians are known for white lies while corrupt public officials as we all know have elevated lying into an art form. So while DILG rules indicate that B&W communication is needed for them to take over it is still just a formality. One has to insist on it when dealing with a liar. The media blitz complete with edited video highlighting Roxas comment presented in the wrong context plus the crying drama and outright lies of Romualdez validates such fears coming from Roxas. This is where the irony is, while people complain about the use of the term storm surge that they have no clue and even the Kring Kring of the wife of Romualdez admits on TV. There seems to be no lack of talent when it comes to editing audio and video to present Roxas in the wrong context enough to convince the gullible that Roxas and the Aquino administration is unfairly pressuring the poor victim of a mayor in "politicizing" the tragedy for Mar's presidential ambition, LOL. Well, to say that people are a sucker for the underdogs is an understatement but is Romualdez really an underdog? Lest some people forget Romualdez belongs to the long disgraced and discredited political family dynasty, a close relative of the frozen stiff one former dictator who once ruled the country with an iron fist and a reputation as a congenital liar. A Romualdez of the Imeldific tribe wannabe royal blood that's more like prone to blood sucking than royal.

Romualdez should consider himself lucky that the president only blamed him for his debacle and poor preparation, he should have been held accountable and responsible for the thousands of death for dereliction of duty and incompetence with deadly consequence. But guess what, this is where trapos excel at like the Arroyo’s, able to deflect the issue by saying the president is playing a blaming game and gullible people are taking the bait hook, line, and sinker.

Funny how people or were those paid hacks accusing Roxas of politicizing the tragedy when it was Alfred Romualdez that sees politics in what is asked of him. He sees the a black and white request as a resignation letter when he wants curfew imposed by the soldiers and his fans rants and raves right away that Mar was too fixated on processes and too legalistic. Perhaps, Roxas came in too strong but this is a nation where nothing moves without the “processes” that was put in place due to decades old corruption. This is a nation where processes are interpreted in so many creative ways and failure to do so can also be interpreted in various creative ways. Despite all the whining and crying and on national TV at that by Romualdez he never wrote anything as requested. Come to think of it, he maybe the dumbest person there is because how can you write a letter of request that serves as a resignation letter beats the crap out of me? LOL. But then again this the husband and wife that has no clue what is a storm surge and now does he think his crocodile tears is enough for him to escape responsibility and accountability for the deaths in the thousands of his constituents?

Someone please organize all the survivors of the Tacloban Yolanda/Haiyan and sue the LGU, yes that means the crying drama prince mayor and Kring Kring of a wife councilor of wrongful death class action lawsuit for incompetence and criminal negligence to protect the welfare and well being of their constituents. No one says that taking the straight narrow path is easy, it is not as straight as we thought it is and there are roadblocks and other hurdles that we need to pass in order to get where we want to be............. But then again is this administration really serious or are they being taken for a ride by the corrupt people around them?

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Kalokohan errr Caloocan Congressional Candidate Dale Agoncillo Malapitan

If we go by the folly of Grace Poe’s illusory take on political dynasty with her delicadeza panacea to dissuade clan members of political family from running, this one trumps her solution making her appear neither here nor there, LOL.

Dale “Along” Malapitan is the son of Oca Malapitan former lower house of Lolong este Congress representative now running for mayor while Along the son former councilor and Bagong Barrio Barangay Chairman takes over his position. There is a reason why there is a constitutional provision imposing term limits on elective position but just the same they skirt the term limits by playing a game of political musical chair within the family. They do this knowing fully well that said practice is shameless with utter disregard for propriety or delicadeza. The term limit is very specific and yet trapos deliberately skirts this by going around it, gaming the system like a Mafiosi. If the trapos are disrespecting and criminally neglecting passage of the enabling law on the constitutional prohibition of political dynasty how exactly will the trapos police themselves thru delicadeza as Grace Poe proposed is beyond me.

Barangay being the smallest unit of government an ancient relic of the past feudal age resurrected by the conjugal Marcos dictatorship and retained by Cory Aquino is the most useless government unit that is nothing but an added burden to the taxpayers. Hit hard are property owners where local Barangays get a percentage of the revenue collected from the property tax whose main function is really to act as the politician’s grassroots machinery. We the people shoulder the election expense so these idle people with plenty of time in their hands are given government authority when they are really useless in terms of curbing criminality because at times some are even involve not in preventing crimes but actually committing heinous criminal acts themselves like the proverbial fox guarding the chicken coop.

The problem with pea brained people when given police like power and authority to apprehend minors for vagrancy is that some of these Barangay Chairmen think that they have the authority and power to release their sexual perversion and sick predatory pedophilia upon their apprehended hapless victims. Back in April 12, 2008, “Mila” who was then a 16 year old minor together with her then 14 year old cousin on their way home in Bagong Barrio was apprehended for violating the curfew for minors by Barangay tanods Joselito Lim, Roderick Antonio and Danilo Bautista, and barangay councilman Pedro Tolentino, “Larry,” “Michael” and several John Does headed by then Barangay Chairman Dale “Along” Malapitan. Mila narrated that instead of being castigated and given a sermon for being out late they were forced to drink alcohol and ordered to obey whatever Along Malapitan tells them to do. This is a serious allegation and if true have they not heard of corruption of minors especially coming from one with the power and authority of a government cloak at that forcing minor to drink alcohol? Forcing minors to drink alcohol is already a serious offense because alcohol has a tendency to makes even mature women lose control and vulnerable to rape, what more with minors in the hands of pedophiles? Mila further narrated that she was brought to the toilet and raped by Along Malapitan and the uncle of the Barangay Chairman allegedly the brother of Along’s father then took her and her cousin to a motel where they were again raped.

This case highlights what is wrong with our government institutions because of ignorant people and power tripping criminal minded elected officials gaming the system. So “Mila” being a minor at the time became a ward of the DSWD, she is the victim here and not the juvenile in conflict with the law so what gives. The sad part is after spending three and a half year with DSWD she learned that the case was dismissed not having a clue how her case was “dismissed.” She felt like she was imprisoned and rightly so because in her 3 ½ years stay at DSWD no one even thought of continuing her education of which she has only reached 2nd grade? So how come juveniles in conflict with the law are sent back home immediately after they are arrested and yet held “Mila” for the longest time until her case was dismissed, does it smell something fishy here or what?

Without the support of the Women’s Advocacy for Gender Equality (WAGE) and my Facebook friend IBP spokeswoman Trixie Cruz-Angeles taking her case pro-bono, we would not have learned about “Mila’s” ordeal. Something like that you would have expected a happy ending but not in a society where endemic corruption seems hopelessly rampant and out of control. In order for Trixie to help “Mila” with her case she needs to get hold of the court case documents to study and review what legal options are available for “Mila.” But lo and behold DSWD refused to hand over the legal documents to Trixie or the victim (she being 21 years old now) on the grounds that it was confidential because at the time of the incident the victim was a minor. True the victim was a minor back then but when she turns 21 everything changes and what law were they citing if I may ask that prohibits releasing court documents pertaining to the victim itself even if she was a minor requesting of a copy of her own court case? As if that is not dumb enough the response Trixie was getting was that the lawyers of DSWD are studying if they can release the documents to the victim or her lawyers is just the height of stupidity. Either that or they are hiding something from the victim now that she was able to get a lawyer representing her?

So skeptics are asking why only now when Along Malapitan is running for a congressional seat, is this not tainted with politics so they ask. Really now, well if these political families stop running for office which is like every 3 year cycle we will not have a problem with timing is it not? Instead of questioning the timing as if it will just help their opponents should we not welcome this so that we are able to know the kind of people we are voting in office who really don’t deserve even a Metro Aide position since they can’t be trusted for their predatory pedophilia? But then again if convicted pedophile like Romeo Jalosjos can shamelessly go out in public campaigning and even endorsing candidates as if they are the exemplary leaders of the nation and dumb BOBOtantes keep on voting for them where are we really headed?

The problem is how can we blame the BOBOtante when they are really left with no choice but the same rotten names they see like a recurring nightmare haunting them? Perhaps we should really seriously consider lobbying for an anabling law defining political dynasty and for once make a concerted and conscious no not unconscious, hehehe effort at following the rules and laws without trying to always look for exceptions as in they don't apply to me or us but just them.

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Media Presstitution in the Philippines the Enablers of Political Dynasty

The non-debate on Political Dynasty Part 2 & 3, conclusion of part 1.

"In societies where Robbing Hoods are treated like a celebrity it is but natural to expect political parties to act like a Mafia syndicate." - Political Jaywalker

Now why do society view such perversion to be normal can be traced to what could have been a noble intention gone awry that started the very first day the dictator was chased out of Malacanang Palace. What is ironic is that shallowness seems to dictate the sentiment of the perennial complainers looking at the surface readily blames what they thought brought us to where we are. Can we blame them when the media can’t help themselves in presstituting their profession adding to the confusion and dumbing down of the people?

Let’s face it, when the dictators was deposed there are people who immediately went on mimicking the very people the EDSA “revolutionist” loathe and right away established their stranglehold in their own turf. One would think that replacing a 2 party political system with a multi-party political system would have leveled the political playing field, providing access equitably among the citizens especially with the inclusion of the party list and prohibition of political dynasty.

The constitutional provision on the prohibition of political dynasty requires the lawmakers to define political dynasty and to what degree of consanguinity and affinity is covered by legislating and passing an enabling law to that effect. No ifs no buts about it and it is as simple as it can get and yet some media practitioners in presstituting their profession would rather misinform and play dumb as if it was the most mysterious and complicated subject they have encountered all their life. Instead of informing the public on the failure of the lawmakers to pass an enabling law for the past 25 years they are acting as the enablers of the trapos in rationalizing the proliferation of political dynasty. In effect when the media goes on presstituting their profession they drug errr drag along the gullible public into enabling politicians to transform the multi-party political system into a family political dynasty system thus the absence of any sensible ideology or platform of governance.

In part 2 of the PTV4 political dynasty forum Enrile states it is difficult to understand and the framers of the constitution did not know what they want thus they left it to the lawmakers to define what they can’t comprehend, LOL. The difficulty is not how political dynasty is to be defined but the opposition coming from people with vested interest already raring to set up their own political dynasty in their respective turf on having the prohibition included in the constitution.

Dynasty he states originated with the monarchy but our dynasty is different because the people are the one's appointing them and not by a single person or the king. True dynasties are built thru the electoral system but under a system where whoever has the guns, goons, and gold in a personality and patronage based electoral contest determines who has the upper hand and the likely winner. If it was indeed the people or the boss as Pres. Noynoy Aquino says that determines the outcome of the electoral contest can someone please explain why the likes of parricidal maniac convict Ruben Ecleo, pedophile convict Romeo Jalosjos, and the mass murderer Ampatuan clan are unbeatable in the electoral process?

Funny how Enrile complains about the absence of a clear cut definition what constitute political dynasty and will support it if there is one. As if to up the ante even says he is willing to retire or resign if there is a law and even blames the framers of the constitution for leaving it to the lawmakers to define the law. Perhaps that’s a typical reaction from people who knew exactly what was needed but refuses to take action because the longer they violate the constitution the longer it becomes acceptable and give a false sense of hopelessness that it can never be done.

The state of our pathetic political system where political dynasty proliferates and getting stronger when it is prohibited by the constitution was best described even though as a joke by JC de los Reyes an Ang Kapatiran Party (AKP) senatorial candidate:

“Political dynasty is government privatization at its best.”

While Lito Yap David also of AKP brought up the people’s initiative on their proposed bill defining political dynasty 6 months ago with the Comelec and wrote them recently has not been acted upon. He further states that our feudal system stunts our progress that serves as a breeding ground for political dynasty.

Former VP Teofisto Guingona warns that there is a potential for seventy (70) families to control the Philippines which is the very reason why the state guarantees equal access to public service. Of course any student of politics in the Philippines will tell you that members of the ruling elites of the political dynasty will not give it up without a fight.

Conrado de Quiroz will of course insist on his flawed logic that there is no need for a law ignoring the constitutional provision and assert further that culture tramps laws, LOL. He must have been referring to the trapos with Mafiosi culture that is so prevalent with the criminal minded and culpable violators of the constitution. Just because they are culpable violators of the constitution repeatedly for the past 25 years does not make it right or legal, calling a criminal by any other name is still a criminal, LOL.

Eden Co one of the panelists while acknowledging the fact that the prohibition of political dynasty was the result of the anti-oligarchy and dictatorship sentiments at that time. It was surprising for her though that the constitution is very “vocal” on political dynasty prohibition and other nations never banned them. She must have been hinting at the rights and freedom of citizens to run for public office while ignoring the very reason why political dynasty is prohibited, for the state to guarantee equal access to public service.

As if this forum was not boring enough part 3 truly dumb down anyone who watched it, LOL.

Bam Aquino the brilliant wannabe clone to the late Benigno Aquino laments the cost of getting elected and urge as if daring people to define political dynasty now. Either he lacks manurity errr maturity acting like a child, or blinded by his desire to be a senator that he becomes so ignorant not knowing that the people can’t define or pass the law. The only time the people can do this is through the people’s initiative route of getting 3% of the voter’s signature in a petition for a referendum with a proposed bill defining political dynasty.

Atty. Jennifer Atienza brought out the problem of no one really follows the campaign financing limit. There's a lot of confusion because it was not defined she further states. Hmmmmn, seems like there is a pattern here of violating whatever laws there is when it comes to laws that makes it difficult for political dynasties to get elected is it not?

Malaking kalapastangan sounds more forceful than the English word disrespect, and that is exactly how Lito Yap David described the aberration on political dynasty.

Conrado de Quiroz is so out of it even agreeing with Bam Aquino on the uneven political playing field by enacting laws making turncoats illegal. Duh, if lawmakers can't come up with a simple enabling law defining political dynasty for the past 25 years what makes him think it will be easy to enact his pet law? LOL

Edna Co states the obvious on the power of the media, by having more substance and direction. Well, this forum is a classic example of lacking in direction and purpose since they start with a wrong premise asking whether there is a need for a law when it was enshrined in the constitution.

Bam says he believes that the Filipino people are intelligent enough to choose the right candidates and that some candidates see their candidacy as an avocation. Really, why are you running if that is the case? One who sees it as an avocation will of course examine where he is at in that equation especially in the context of prohibited political dynasty.

If there is anything that was useful in this forum it is non-other than learning that AKP has started the people’s initiative through a signed petition to have a referendum on a proposed bill defining political dynasty. We can always use the election to mobilize and organize the people in gathering pledges to vote only candidates who will commit to passing enabling laws. While we know that the likely chance of success is nil it will be the start of consensus building in preparation for the signature gathering for a referendum on a people’s initiative for a referendum on the a proposed enabling law defining political dynasty. Now if only the medial will have some "direction," no actually we just need them to stop the presstitution and call it what it is instead of telling us that the prohibition of political dynasty is complicated when it was not.

Related article:

• The non-debate on Political Dynasty at PTV4 Part 1
• The Bobotanteng (Voting) Pinoy & the Unrealized Power of the Ballot
• Political Dynasty and the Pinoy Bobotante

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The non-debate on Political Dynasty at PTV4 Part 1

The question or the debate should not be about whether political dynasty is right or wrong, it should be what’s taking them all these years to define up to what degree of consanguinity and affinity is legal or outlawed?

Perhaps, one just get impatient when watching TV anchors talk about political dynasty on the idiot box giving one the strange feeling of getting transported to the land of the dumb. Now why will they start on a wrong premise if there is a need or not for a law on political dynasty? First of all it is not a question of whether a law is needed or not because political dynasty is prohibited that is clearly spelled out in the Philippine Constitution under Article II, Section 26 which states:

“The state shall guarantee equal access to public service and prohibit political dynasty as may be defined by law.”

In case they are not aware the constitution is where the fundamental political principles on which a state is governed, especially when considered as embodying the rights of the subjects of that state. So when the constitution says as may be defined by law and the lawmakers fail or rather openly violate and ignore for the past 25 years passing the enabling law they are in effect guilty of culpable violation of the constitution. Remember that guy with a coterie of gratis high priced lawyers who vehemently protects his right to privacy on his US Dollar bank account? Yeah, he was impeached and fired for culpable violation of the constitution and who are those who filed the complaint and tried former thief este chief justice Renato Corona? Oh yeah, the same people who for the past 25 years failed and openly are in culpable violation of the constitution repeatedly running for office as if politics is a family entrepreneurial business profit center.

Don’t get me wrong here, I believe impeaching and firing CJ Renato Corona for culpable violation of the constitution is not just the politically correct thing to do but even very morally right on all levels. The problem is all these so-called right political moves becomes a joke and loses its luster and credibility that only strengthen the highly partisan mindset of the people because we seem to enforce it selectively, particularly to the enemies of whoever at that time is in power.

So when Conrado de Quiroz insist that we don’t need a law against political dynasty, he is so wrong on that point. If the prohibition on political dynasty is written in the constitution it is not a matter of whether some individual or sectors want the law or not. It is the fundamental law of the land that we need to abide by and follow or we are in culpable violation of the constitution. If it is enshrined in the constitution, the longer they fail to pass an enabling law defining political dynasty the longer we exacerbate peace and order and people without discipline. The longer they fail to pass a law the more it gets more attractive for the criminal minded to run for public office not mindful of the fact, that it is definitely a cause for the lawmakers’ disqualification for their open defiance and culpable violation of the constitution.

Now what’s wrong with the other premise brought forth by Conrado De Quiroz that having a law against political dynasty is wrong since it infringes on the rights of a person who happens to have the same family name or was it their fault to be born into the political family dynasty? There is nothing wrong being born into a political dynasty since they are not given a choice at birth, that is a given. What is wrong is the concentration of economic and political power to a certain political clan growing into a political dynasty because our political system is based on personality and patronage. It is this concentration of power that the state is preventing thus the prohibition of political dynasty to guarantee equal access to public service to all on an equal footing. One has to remember that an individual’s rights and freedoms stops when it infringes on others and clearly without the prohibition political position becomes a monopoly that denies others equal access to be in public service.

Unfortunately they misread or fail to grasp or perhaps playing dumb on a very simple constitutional provision that is anchored on the state guaranteeing equal access to public service. The state cannot guarantee equal access unless we have a level political playing field and when the system allows political and economic power to concentrate in a single family in a locality it shuts the door of opportunity to others, Meaning other deserving genuine qualified leaders with integrity will not be able to compete in the electoral process where goons, guns, and gold determine the winners decisively. Political contest should be decided on which party and candidate offers the type of good governance based on sound and pragmatic political platforms that the voters believe will help them move towards a better tomorrow.

It is not a question of whether a political dynasty is good or bad but it is a question of following the constitution that political dynasty is prohibited; now how difficult was that to understand?

Do we really want change for the better or do we just want to whine and complain even though we know these politicians will not hear of it because they are just too dense. Look at this Bam Aquino who insists on having a definition now of what prostitute errr constitute a political dynasty, well hello anyone home? Bam Aquino is a bright intelligent man, a successful entrepreneur and yet plays dumb while trying to mimic his uncle all the way to his eyeglasses. There’s a rumor going around that Bam’s eyeglasses is just a spectacle with no grade, LOL but let’s give the impersonator wannabe the benefit of the doubt. Really Bam, define it now? You know it takes the lower and upper house of Lolong este congress to make that happen, but what is so obvious is you are turning to be a trapo even before you start your political career. Aquino’s co-panelist JC de los Reyes and Lito Yap David senatorial candidates of Ang Kapatiran Party was very clear on this in case he missed it I am repeating it again, in the absence of an enabling law it’s all about delicadeza.

A strong anti-political dynasty movement is truly what we need especially for this coming 2013 election where we can organize and mobilize supporters to vote out political dynasty through a voters pledge to vote only candidates who will commit to pass enabling law defining political dynasty. We also have a choice to support Ang Kapatiran Party in their petition using RA 6735 with the Commission on Elections seeking the latter’s approval on the form of a Petition for the enactment of a national legislation, the Anti-Dynasty Act, through a people’s initiative. There is also the Supreme Court Petition led by former VP Teofisto Guingona to force congress to pass an enabling law and then we also have the tedious option of petitioning for their disqualification for culpable violation of the constitution or how about the other petition at  for the SC to define it themselves. So many choices out there but we can’t defeat political dynasty by sitting on our behind whining, we must act now or forever see the worsening state of politics getting owned by a few family for their piggy plunder bank……..........

Conclusion Part 2 & 3 Media Presstitution in the Philippines the Enablers of Political Dynasty

Related article:

• Media Presstitution in the Philippines the Enablers of Political Dynasty
• The Bobotanteng (Voting) Pinoy & the Unrealized Power of the Ballot
• Political Dynasty and the Pinoy Bobotante

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Political Dynasty and the Pinoy Bobotante

Part 1 of 2 

Filipino politicians are notorious for creating and changing their own rules from time to time or even interpreting established laws according to how it benefits them depending on whoever is in power. One thing where they meet in a bi-partisan (as if there are really political parties separated by principle and ideology, hehehe) manner is their failure to pass enabling law defining political dynasty that does not even take an Einstein to figure out.

It is not like Article II, Section 26 of the constitution is so difficult to understand when it was written in plain simple language, to quote:

“The state shall guarantee equal access to public service and prohibit political dynasty as may be defined by law.”

So what is there in the 19 word sentence that is so difficult to comprehend that for the past 26 years since it was written in the Philippine constitution no one seems able to figure out up to now? Some people think it defies definition, really? I don’t know how it can defy definition when everyone knows what a dynasty is, but just to show that it is really not undefinable here is how Webster defines political dynasty: 

1 : a succession of rulers of the same line of descent 

2 :a powerful group or family that maintains its position for a considerable time

The constitution is very clear on why it is prohibiting political dynasty, it is to guarantee equal access to public service to the citizens as in prohibiting and not just preventing the concentration of power in the hands of the few ruling families. It is the same reason why the party list was introduced in the constitution, to give the underrepresented marginalized representation and access to the legislative branch of government. The point is to level the political playing field where qualified leaders of integrity a citizen of the republic is given equal access to governance, and not limited to the few families who control the nation’s wealth and political power which is what a robust democracy is all about.

When a new voter vote for Pedro Tarpulano or a Juan Tanga they don’t expect to vote for his wife, mistresses, sons, daughters or even his bastard children courtesy of their labandera (laundrywoman) all the way down to his grandkids which is just ridiculous but it is happening now because of the personality and patronage based electoral system. Voters deserve better than contend with the same family for the next 50 years or his/her lifetime.

Just because it has not been defined it does not mean that members of the political clan that sees politics as an entrepreneurial family business profit center is not aware or have no clue what is a political dynasty. As if that is not bad enough some sectors tries to deflect the issue towards what they believes is the real pressing one that they puts to task anti-political dynasty advocates for quoting the characterization of pornography by Supreme Court justice Potter Stewart “I know it when I see it” adage. Perhaps that is what the petitioners wrote in their arguments, but the only thing that I see comparable between political dynasty and pornography is they are both obscene, Other than that there is really no comparison. While I agree that RH Bill, Freedom of Information Act, and the Sin Tax are urgent issues, political dynasty is not an absurd and distracting issue that some people wanted us to believe. It is the issue now because the 2013 election is just around the corner and this is the only time we can force the issue and the time when politicians need us more than we need them.

Now, how exactly is political dynasty so undefinable as if it is such a mysterious term or contentious when it really is all about greedy politicians so drunk with power unwilling to let go? Their refusal to define political dynasty is seen as their propensity to violate the constitution or any law that stands in the way of their stranglehold on political power. All the bills introduced defining political dynasty seems to come up with the same basic definition below:
 

Political Dynasty is to be defined as the concentration, consolidation or perpetuation of public office and political power by persons related to one another.

Is that so fool este full of complexities? I don’t think so but the reason being is they really want political power concentrated within the family. The reason they refuse to even consider passing what they could muster as the most watered down version is that no matter who introduced and what law is passed their spouses and children are the first on the chopping block.

What really comes as very amusing is how Senator Alan Cayetano the husband of Lani Cayetano the Facebook tyrant who happens to be the mayor of Taguig desperately tries to rationalize and desperately differentiates their dynasty from the rest, LOL. Perhaps Alan Cayetano was telling the truth that they are not corrupt and I clap my hands in glee but that is not the point of contention here. Never mind that his wife Lani fired the nurses for posting a complaint in their Facebook account and her co-employees for liking it. Never mind that it was enough to give them a hard time by not issuing them a work certificate, and she is supposed to be a woman of the dynasty with integrity?

As an anti-political dynasty advocate I appreciate the advice given by Alan Peter Cayetano although unsolicited is really missing the point by a thousand miles, LOL. This is not about identifying which ones are good or bad political dynasty, the issue is about passing an enabling law defining political dynasty. 26 years is long enough, we need to exert all our effort towards paving a level political playing field which is what a tuwad este tuwid na daan (straight path) needs in order for us to leave a lasting legacy to our children and their children. Who knows we might even attract leaders of the likes of Jesse Robredo who might just get encouraged to participate in the electoral process?

Glad to know that Alan Peter Cayetano believes they are honest, unfortunately not honest enough to admit that they are violating the constitution and just exploiting the absence of an enabling law as a sorry excuse to perpetuate their family in power.  I say give it up and let us have an enabling law and they should be honest enough even without it people of integrity knows exactly what the constitution requires everyone to do. The very problem we face is the hypocrisy wherein we can easily identify and see what’s wrong with others not realizing we are not really any different and with the feeling of entitlement we just go around in circles.

The problem with political power that is concentrated in the hands of the few families is that greed takes over and corruption goes haywire. The problem with this arrangement is that it corrupts not just people’s mindset but job opportunities become rare because the moneyed class invest their accumulated capital in enterprises that does not generates job opportunities when they invest in politics. Under the scenario of patronage politics people make a living as a sycophant or spin doctors muddling the problem beyond recognition deflecting the issues all over except of course in their benefactors direction. No wonder this spin doctor errr I meant opinion writer blames the bobotante (voters) who says that there are no political dynasty without the voters who keeps on voting them in. I say that was an astute observation, right on and at the same time wrong, hehehe. Well, for one it is not like majority of the citizen are independent and whose life and fate does not depend on the whims and caprice of the people in the government. That opinionated errrr opinion writer seems to forget that people are in a semi-feudal existence and as such they rely on patronage. The ugly truth or reality is that hungry people worries more about where to get the money for the next meal for his family than take the time to learn about candidates with integrity offering a viable platform of governance if one even exist. Desperation and desolation makes some people forget what is prim and proper or simply what is logical or even legal and illegal when offered money in exchange for their vote.

The problem can really get complicated if we make it to be so complicated, but if we stop from over thinking the problem and just confront the problem, we can all find out that it is just a hurdle that we can surpass if together we put our mind to it.

To be continued on Part 2 of 2……………… The Bobotanteng (Voting) Pinoy & the Unrealized Power of the Ballot

Related Article:

• Media Presstitution in the Philippines the Enablers of Political Dynasty
•  The non-debate on Political Dynasty at PTV4 Part 1
• The Bobotanteng (Voting) Pinoy & the Unrealized Power of the Ballot

 

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Political Dynasty: Ilocos Sur Political Trend, Threatens Life and Dignity

By: Albert Rabe

INTRODUCTION:

Large scale corruption by elected officials, violence and harassment are the dominant features of the political landscape, exploiting and endangering the lives of the majority poor. Candidates of the 2010 elections shows a very disturbing and alarming political trend in Ilocos Sur. Political lordship has become a private property being inherited, passed on or transferred to every family member of a political clan. Worse is elective political position is turned into a family owned and controlled business, to the detriment of various families already wallowing in appalling poverty.

I. What are the prevailing features of this political structure that has become a private property and a lucrative business of one political clan?

A. POLITICAL LORDSHIP AS PRIVATE PROPERTY
1) In Ilocos Sur, 18 of the 33 municipalities or 54.54 % is lorded over by one family, either husband and wife, brothers or sisters, mother-son, father-daughter, in-laws or cousins. (Sta. Cruz, Sta. Lucia, Santa, San Esteban, San Ildefonso, Sto. Domingo, Santiago, Sta. Maria, San Vicente, Salcedo, Vigan, Cabugao, Magsingal, Narvacan, Lidlidda, Sigay, Caoayan, Bantay)

2) In the municipality of Narvacan, after 17 years of mayorship, the father is bequeathing the mayoralty to his son, who is a former board member. While the wife of the former mayor remains as vice-mayor. Their daughter is aiming for a seat at the provincial board. The nephew and sister of the former mayor are also seeking for a seat as SBMs. Six (6) family members targeting a political position at the same time and place.

3) Two brothers are contesting for the mayoralty in the town of San Ildefonso, they’re both un-opposed. While their brother, also a former mayor, is running for board member. Their mother used to be the town’s mayor and a former board member.

4) Further south, in Sta. Cruz town, the long time mayor slides down to vice-mayor to elevate his wife as mayor. They’re sure to bag the positions because they’re both uncontested.

5) Up in the mountains, in Sigay town, the mayor whose term expired, is transferring his position to his son who is unchallenged. In the nearby town of Lidlidda, father and son are eyeing the mayoralty and vice-mayoralty respectively.

6) Husband and wife tandem in the town of San Vicente remained un-opposed for so many elections now. It can be said that there is no democratic freedom in this town because all candidates are un-opposed.

7) In Central Ilocos Sur, in Sta. Maria, a former and long time mayor is posing to come back and he is challenging also a former mayor, who is the husband of the outgoing mayor.

8) In Vigan City, the incumbent mayor, a daughter of a one time governor and also the niece of a former governor and congressman, is seeking another term. While her 1st cousin and son of former governor and congressman, is claiming the vice mayor post. Both are un-opposed. The former vice-mayor dropped down to SBM.

10) In the coastal town of Santa, father and son control the political power. Only switching positions when each term expires. They’re both un-opposed in this year’s poll.


11) In Santiago town, the former mayor shifted to vice-mayor as his son is aiming to take the mayoralty. Their opponents are their cousins.

12) In another coastal town (Caoayan), the outgoing mayor is running for vice-mayor to pave way for his brother at the mayorship. Youngest sibling of a former governor is also claiming the mayoralty.

13) The towns of Sta. Lucia and Magsingal are dominated by mother and son tandem. They only switch positions every after each term expires. Candon and Bantay towns are also controlled by the same political family.

14) Former mayor is running with his son for mayor and SBM respectively in Sta. Catalina, while the father-son in San Juan take turn every after term expiration of the father as mayor.

15) In the provincial level, the former and long time governor is coming back for the province’s top post. While the “outgoing” governor slid down to vice-governor. The seats of the two congressional districts are conveniently controlled by the same political figures.


B. POLITICS OF UN-OPPOSED CANDIDACY

1) Eleven (11) towns (33.33%) have un-opposed mayoralty candidates. (Lidlidda, Salcedo, Narvacan, Bantay, Vigan, San Vicente, San Ildefonso, San Juan, Sta. Cruz, Santa, Sigay)

2) Eigth (8) municipalities (24.24%) have un-challenged mayor and vice-mayor.(Vigan, San Vicente, Narvacan, Bantay, Santa, Salcedo, sta. Cruz, San Ildefonso)

3) One municipality (San Vicente) os totally un-opposed from top to bottom.

C. POLITICS OF “PATAAS-PABABA” OR POLITICAL POWER TRANSFERRED TO FAMILY MEMBER

1) Thirty three percent (33.33% ) or 11 towns have candidates sliding down to vice-mayor or gearing up to mayor after their terms expired. If not, they bequeat their political positions to immediate family members or close relatives. These are the municipalities of San Ildefonso, Narvacan, Cabugao, Sta. Lucia, Sta. Cruz, Sigay, Santiago, Caoayan, Lidlidda, Salcedo and Sinait.

2) For instance, in Cabugao, the last termer mayor is handing over the mayorship to his wife.

3) Up north, in Sinait town, a former full termed mayor who slid down to vice-mayor is gearing up to claim back the mayorship, while a last termer SB is giving his post to his son.

4) These are but few profiles of a political system wherein the power is inherited by a family member or perpetuated by same political personalities via the “Pababa-Pataas or vice-versa” brand of politics.

II. What are the identified root causes of un-opposed politics as private property?

1) Emerging from a dictatorial rule, the framers of 1986 charter have enshrined in the constitution the principle of anti-political dynasty purposely to safeguard the nation from the grip of monarchical and oligarchic regime. However, there was no specific enabling law that could have hastened the full and strict implementation of that very essential and ideal element of a democratic system.
Legislators simply evaded the task of enacting an anti-political law because they’re the beneficiaries of the political dynasty.

2) Political lordship became a private property and a family business. Poll fraud coupled with political violence and massacre have imposed it and aided it to exist and persist. Anti-graft laws were selective, punishing only the “small fishes” while rewarding the powerful and influential political bigwigs.

3) Political dynasty has become a culture or a way of doing politics due to an immature faith. Most Christians have not dared to embrace the challenges of the times, they fell short to the radical prophetic mission.

4) Politics as family owned and controlled business has conveniently thrive due to lack of in depth and proactive analysis. People succumbed to the lures of donations, dole out and patronage. Lifestyle and mindsets of people have erected and galvanized this oppressive political structure.

5) Family celebrations such as baptism, weddings, birthdays, fiestas and even funerals have been used to honor politicians as sponsors, guests or patrons.

III. What are the disastrous effects of un-opposed candidacy and politics owned and controlled by family?

1) Political power owned and controlled by one family is devoid of transparency and accountability. It is a fertile ground of graft and corruption.

2) Conjugal political power has no check and balance which is very basic element of a democratic system and governance. Therefore, this is open to cheating, this kind of politics is anti-people, anti-poor and anti-God.

3) Un-opposed candidacy is not at all a proof of effective governance. It can be deduced as helplessness of people in the democratic exercises. It is blatant insult to be democratic ideals. It robs the people of their right of independent suffrage and their power to renew the political profile.

Conclusion:
The political trend in most towns of Ilocos Sur points to a kind of politics that is family owned and controlled, a luxurious business and a politics of un-opposed or pre-arranged. This political evolution came about because the damaged culture of most families allowed it. This is a social sin. This cause for alarm!

The minimum qualification to capture the reign of power is simply—be a wife or husband, or son or daughter of a political figure, then—power, is handed over in a silver platter.

The people’s freedom to choose and their innate power to change political leadership have been compromised and bastardized!

The political profile in Ilocos Sur is the microcosm of the nation's political landscape. The challenge is, radical transformation of consciousness and culture of families. It can be difficult, but not impossible.

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