Anti-political dynasty group seeks to disqualify six candidates

An anti-political dynasty group on Tuesday filed before the Commission on Elections a petition seeking to disqualify six candidates whom they claimed to be "clear and obvious" cases of political dynasties.

In a 32-page petition, AnDayaMo (Anti-Dynasty Movement) said they uncovered  several, sufficient, strong and compelling legal grounds against:

• Davao City Vice Mayor Rodrigo Duterte,
• Dennis Pineda of  Pampanga,
• Miguel and Rep. Luis Villafuerte of Camarines Sur, and
• Rep. Rexlon and Mayor Sherwin Gatchalian of Valenzuela City.

Duterte is seeking return to his former post and to replace his daughter, Sara. He served as the Davao City mayor from 1988 to 1998 and from 2001 to 2010. His son, Paolo, is running for vice mayor unopposed.

While Pineda, a former Lubao mayor, is seeking the vice gubernatorial post. His mother, Pampanga Governor Lilia ‘Baby’ Pineda is seeking reelection.

Miguel, son of incumbent Camarines Sur Governor Luis Raymond Villafuerte, is seeking to replace his father. He will be running against his grandfather, Luis, who is also seeking the gubernatorial post.

The incumbent governor, on the other hand, is running for a congressional post against Rep. Diosdado “Dato" Arroyo.

The Gatchalians, meanwhile, will switch places. Sherwin will be running for a congressional seat in 2013 while Rexlon will seek the mayoralty post.

Petitioners

The petitioners, including lawyer Alex Lacson; Mae Paner, also known as Juana Change; UP National College of Public Administration and Governance (NCPAG) Dean Edna Co; and senatorial candidate Ricardo Pecson, believe Comelec can disqualify the respondents, even before the Congress pass an anti-dynasty law.

They said the poll body can use Associate Justice Antonio Carpio's definition of political dynasty, in Navarro v Ermita, as a “phenomenon that concentrates political power and public resources within the control of a few families whose members alternately hold elective offices, deftly skirting term limits."

"We strongly believe that Comelec can (use this definition). It can lawfully and validly utilize such legal definition under the above SC ruling, as Comelec's legal framework in promulgating rules and regulations, at least against those clear and obvious cases of political dynasties," they said.

The group also called on the voting public to initiate similar petitions for disqualification nationwide against candidates who are members of political dynasties.

"We believe that the key towards the eventual dismantling of political dynasties lies not in the singular piece of any token legislation passed by a deficient Congress but in the creative, shared, and sustained struggle of divergent small voices -- our voices," they said.

Comelec chairman Sixto Brillantes Jr said he will read the petition. But this early, he expressed doubt that the petition will prosper.

“Wala naman kaming jurisdiction. Kaka-dismiss sa Supreme Court nung anti-dynasty, pinipilit  na magkaroon ng batas. Ano kaya ang jurisprudence (ng petition)?” he told reporters.

“Babasahin ko muna pero ako initially ang tingin ko hindi matutuloy. Tingin ko malabo yung petition. Pero kung maganda pagkakagawa ng petition i-hear namin para marinig namin opinion nila,” he added.

The Supreme Court on Tuesday dismissed for a second time a petition seeking to abolish political dynasties in the Philippines.

In an interview, Rep. Luis Villafuerte  believed the filing of the petition was a “useless effort.”

“Ang nakalagay sa Constitution, political dynasty shall be prohibited as defined by law.

There is no law. Wala yan, this is a useless effort. Definitely it will not prosper, there is no prohibition against any so called dynasty,” he said.

He also asked, “if you have squabbling family members, where is dynasty?”

In a text message to GMA News Online, Rep. Rexlon Gatchalian said they are confident that the case will not prosper as it has no legal basis.

“Our lawyers are already working on having it dismissed. My brother and I will not be distracted by this case. We will continue to focus on serving our respective constituencies as we wrap up our terms of office,” he said.
- VVP, GMA News