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Dynasties to remain dominant in 2013 polls
A different game, but almost the same players. For the May 2013 midterm elections, 12 out of the 20 senatorial bets from the two biggest coalitions come from political families—reinforcing the notion that candidates were chosen according to their recognizable last names rather than their principles or platforms. One prominent example: If he wins, candidate Jack Ponce Enrile would serve in the Senate alongside his father, Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile. Even the newcomers to electoral politics, Bam Aquino and Grace Poe-Llamanzares, have familiar last names. "Matagal na nating panawagan 'yan," said Ramon Casiple, executive director of the Institute for Political and Electoral Reforms Ramon Casiple, regarding calls to end political dynasties in the country. "Iyon ang problema natin, hindi pa napapasa sa Kongreso." In a phone interview with GMA News Online on Monday, Casiple said candidates with a popular family name are likely to garner votes based on name recall alone. "Limitado lang ang kilala ng mga botante. Mga botante natin, malamang dahil name recall, iboboto ang kilalang pangalan," he said. "Minsan napagkakamalan silang mga beteranong politician kaya sila ang iboboto, pero hindi naman talaga sila 'yon." "It is not accidental that provinces with established political dynasties are also among the poorest," writes UP sociologist Nicole Curato on this site. "The concentration of political power among a few families benefits a narrow set of economic interests over a period of time, institutionalizes economic inequalities, and perpetuates a culture of dependency." Familiar surnames In the United Nationalist Alliance (UNA)—a coalition between the Partido Demokratikong Pilipino-Laban and Pwersa ng Masang Pilipino—those who come from political families are:
- Cagayan Rep. Juan Ponce "Jack" Enrile Jr., son of Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile;
- San Juan Rep. Joseph Victor "JV" Ejercito, son of former President Joseph Estrada and half-brother of Senate Pro Tempore Jinggoy Estrada;
- former Tarlac governor Margarita "Tingting" Cojuangco, aunt of President Benigno Aquino III; and
- Zambales Rep. Maria Milagros Mitos Magsaysay, daughter-in-law of former Zambales governor Vicente Magsaysay.
On the other hand, Cojuangco, aside from being the President’s aunt, is the wife of UNA vice president and incumbent Philippine Olympic Committee president Jose “Peping" Cojuangco Jr., who himself is a former Tarlac congressman. On the Senate slate of the coalition formed by the Liberal Party (LP), Nacionalista Party (NP), and Nationalist People's Coalition, the following come from political families: - Senator Aquilino "Koko" Pimentel III, son of former Seante President Aquilino Pimentel Jr.,
- Senator Alan Peter Cayetano, son of former Senator Rene Cayetano and brother of Sen. Pia Cayetano,
- former Senator Ramon "Jun" Magsaysay Jr., son of the late President Ramon Magsaysay Sr.,
- Aurora Rep. Juan Edgardo "Sonny" Angara, son of Sen. Edgardo Angara, whose term will end in 2013
- Las Piñas Rep. Cynthia Villar, wife of Sen. Manny Villar, whose term will end next year, and
- Paolo Benigno “Bam” Aquino, President Aquino’s cousin
Customs Commissioner Ruffy Biazon, son of former senator and Muntinlupa Rep. Rodolfo Biazon; Quezon Rep. Lorenzo “Erin” Tañada, grandson of the late Sen. Lorenzo Tañada; and Jose “Joey" de Venecia III, son of former House Speaker Jose De Venecia Jr. were also supposed to run in the 2013 polls but decided to drop their bids. Bills vs political dynasties Lawmakers like Senator Miriam Defensor-Santiago have been pushing for the prohibition of political dynasties in the country. "The playing field of the political arena should be leveled and opened to persons who are equally qualified to aspire on even terms with those from ruling politically dominant families," she earlier said. Article II Section 26 of the 1987 Philippine Constitution states that: "The State shall guarantee equal access to opportunities for public service and prohibit political dynasties as may be defined by law." Since the ratification of the Charter, however, Congress has yet to pass an enabling law defining "political dynasties." Because of this, Santiago filed Senate Bill 2649, which says that no spouse or person related within the second civil degree of consanguinity or affinity to an incumbent elective official seeking reelection shall be allowed to hold or run for any elective office in the same province in the same election. SB 2649 is pending at the committee level. It also says that no person related by second civil degree of consanguinity or affinity to any incumbent official shall be allowed to immediately succeed the position of the latter, except for Punong Barangays or members of the Sangguniang Barangay. Bayan Muna party-list Rep. Teodoro Casiño had also filed a similar bill, House Bill 3413, in the House of Representatives. At least three similar bills had also been filed during the 13th and 14th Congress: former senator and Manila Mayor Alfredo Lim's SB 1317 (2004); Santiago's SB 1904 (2005); and Sen. Panfilo Lacson's SB 1468 (2007). Lim and Santiago's bill did not even pass the committee level during the 13th Congress, while Lacson's proposed measure remained pending on second reading until the 14th Congress adjourned its session. Other options Other options, like people's initiative, are not likely to get positive results, according to Casiple "Pwede ring people's initiative kaso pahirapan iyan. Pahirapang manawagan sa Kongreso," he said. A "genuine political party system" could be the best shot, he added. "Dapat magkaroon ng genuine political party system kung saan ang party ang pipili ng tatakbo, hindi mga kandidatong nagbibigay lang ng pera." Bam Aquino and Villar, however, said they do not see anything wrong with running for public office even though their other relatives are also in position. — with Amanda Fernandez/KBK/HS, art by Den Fajardo, GMA News 
