Bello calls Sara ‘a coward like Bongbong’ while railing against dynasties

Vice presidential candidate Walden Bello called Davao Mayor Sara Duterte a "coward like [former senator Ferdinand] Bongbong Marcos" for refusing to face the public in election debates as he blasted the two families’ “dynasties” as the “greatest evil” in the country’s political system.

"The Marcos dynasty and the Duterte dynasty, we’re seeing how they represent really the greatest evil of the political system that we have," the former partylist lawmaker said on CNN Philippines' Vice Presidential Debates when asked about how we would ensure that equal opportunities will be given for those who run for public office. 

Bello urged the voters to thwart political dynasties like the Marcos-Duterte tandem who respectively come from the north and south.

“The South and the North will get together to eat up the Philippines. The task is up to our voters. Do not elect these dynastic cliques coming to power,” he said.

“Nasa sa voters na ngayon. That’s why we are appealing, don’t vote for these dynasts,” he added.

He also called out Sara Duterte, daughter of President Rodrigo Duterte, for not attending the vice presidential debates hosted by CNN Philippines. Both her and Marcos begged off from taking part in the televised event.

“I’m really terribly sorry that Mayor Duterte is not here to face the people. She is a coward just like Bongbong Marcos is a fucking coward,” he said.

“I would love to debate her. Wow!” he added.

Duterte will also not attend the debate that will be organized by the Commission on Elections (Comelec) in March.

GMA News Online has sought comment from Marcos and Duterte and would publish their reply once they answer.

New system

Vice Presidential candidate Carlos Serapio said a new system is needed to banish political dynasties.

"Ang magagawa po namin, isinusulong namin ang paglalagay ng bagong sistema sa pagtatalaga ng Puno Bayanihan Constitution, sapagkat doon hindi kailangan ng enabling legislation. The constitution itself will provide that political dynasty should definitely not be tolerated," Serapio said.

Aksyon Demokratiko vice presidential candidate Willie Ong proposed to implement “variations” of the anti-political dynasty law.

“Actually, syempre, ayaw natin ng political dynasty, diba? Pero meron namang mga paraan- masyado kasi tayong strict, eh, hindi naman matutuloy din to, hindi din papasa. Pero pwede tayong gumawa ng mga variations," he said.

According to Ong, this includes limits to the number of politicians within a family or dynasty as well as mandatory gaps between terms.

“Baka pwede may gap muna, may isang term para at least hindi gamitin yung resources nung nahalal para tulungan ‘yung anak niya, kamag-anak niya,” he said.

“So kailangan may gap tsaka may limit lang ‘yung dami ng kamaganak na pwe-pwede. Siguro dalawa or tatlo,” he added.

He also reiterated that he and presidential candidate Francisco “Isko” Moreno is eyeing to amend the 1987 Constitution and increase the Senate seats to 34, with each region being represented by two senators.

Vice presidential candidate Manny Lopez said not all political dynasties are bad.

"In fairness to our political spectrum, there are good dynasties, there are bad dynasties, and there are terrible dynasties," he said.

"We propose, under the Labor Party, a structural and political reform agenda that will empower the people once more. This is through a functional people's initiative with prescribed implementation guidelines that could enable ordinary citizens to legislate, amend or rescind laws," Lopez said.—LDF, GMA News